False indigo or baptisia (Baptisia australis), is a member of the Fabacea (aka Legumacea or legume) family with distinctive blue pea-like flowers about an inch long. The flowers are bisexual and appear in upright racemes (spikes) in early June. The blue-black fruit ripens in late summer.
It is about 2 inches long and filled with tiny, yellow-brown, kidney-shaped seeds that rattle around inside once they have ripened. This gives the plant its common names Rattleweed and Rattlebush.
Leaves are grey-green, trifoliate and arranged alternately upon the smooth stem which, if broken, releases sap that turns dark blue or purple upon contact with the air. The roots are woody, black and warty.
It can reach six feet in height, though it usually doesn’t reach more than three feet, and spreads out by woody rhizomes into a nice big clump. It also reproduces by seed, but weevils enjoy the seeds, so a good harvest of viable seeds is rare in many areas.
Other Names Blue False Indigo, Indigo Weed, Rattleweed, Rattlebush, Horse Fly Weed, Blue Wild Indigo
History and Folklore
The genus name Baptisia is derived from the greek ”bapto”, meaning “to immerse”, in reference to the plant’s usefulness in creating dyes for cloth. The specific name australis is Latin for “southern”.
False indigo is native to North America and is most common in the Midwest. Many Native peoples used it for various purposes including medicine and dye, which the Europeans later did as well. The name baptisia alludes to this practice. As the name false indigo implies, it can be used as a substitute for true indigo Indigofera tinctoria.
Baptisia may be propagated by cuttings, division or by seed. It enjoys full sun to part shade and prefers that its soil not be too alkaline. This plant can run wild and take over, so it is best to deadhead it before the seeds fall and periodically divide the rhizomes to keep it manageable.
Harvesting & Storage
Flower and seed stalks can be hung upside down to dry and added to wreaths and floral arrangements.
Feminine in nature and associated with Venus, false indigo is an excellent protective herb. Plant it around your home for general protection, wear it on your person or use it in spells and amulets of a protective nature. It is especially useful for spells and amulets designed to protect pets and familiars- make sure they don’t get a hold of it and eat it because it is poison.
|Protection||Blue False Indigo is associated with protection and can be used in protective spells or rituals.|
|Lunar Magick||It is aligned with the energy of the Moon and can be utilized in lunar magick and rituals.|
|Inner Wisdom||Blue False Indigo is linked to enhancing intuition and accessing inner wisdom.|
|Transformation||It is believed to assist in personal transformation and growth.|
The seed pods of wild blue indigo yield a lovely blue dye similar to that of true indigo. The dried seed pods are also quite pretty in floral arrangements.
This plant is said to repel flies from animals. To try this, hang a bunch of fresh flowers in your barn.
Baptisia is toxic and should not be used except under the care of an experienced practitioner. Pregnant women should never use this herb.
|Anti-inflammatory||Blue False Indigo has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the body.|
|Digestive Aid||It is believed to support digestion and relieve gastrointestinal issues.|
|Respiratory Support||Blue False Indigo may assist in respiratory health and provide relief from respiratory conditions.|
|Skin Soothing||Topical preparations of Blue False Indigo can soothe skin irritations and promote healing.|
This plant has been used as an antiseptic, a purgative and to combat coughs and fevers.
A tea of the roots has been used as an emetic and purgative, a poultice of the roots as an anti-inflammatory and small pieces were held in the mouth to treat toothaches.
A decoction of the stems has been used to stimulate the immune system and help the body fight of pneumonia, tuberculosis, influenza and other serious illnesses, especially of the upper respiratory system. It may also be used externally as a wash for smallpox and similar illnesses.
Side effects of ingesting blue indigo may include vomiting, diarrhea and gastrointestinal spasms.