(Baptisia bracteata)
Cream Wild Indigo is a perennial native to Wisconsin that grows one to two feet tall, with creamy yellow, pea-shaped flowers arranged along dense, cascading racemes that droop gracefully toward the ground. This bushy plant, which can spread up to three feet wide, has round, light green stems that branch occasionally. Its leaves are arranged alternately along the stem and are divided into three leaflets, each one to three inches long and up to an inch across. The leaflets have smooth margins and are typically lance-shaped, with the more pointed end at the base.
Thriving in prairies and open woodlands, Cream Wild Indigo prefers sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. In Wisconsin, it typically blooms from May to June, making it one of the earliest prairie species to flower. This early bloom provides essential nectar for queen bumblebees emerging from hibernation. The flowers eventually develop into inconspicuous light green seed pods, which turn blue-black in the fall, adding seasonal interest to the landscape.
This plant serves as a larval host for several butterfly species, including the Wild Indigo Duskywing (*Erynnis baptisiae*), the Hoary Edge (*Achalarus lyciades*), and the Orange Sulphur (*Colias eurytheme*). As a member of the legume family, Cream Wild Indigo plays a role in nitrogen fixation, benefiting the surrounding plant community.
Despite its delicate appearance, Cream Wild Indigo is a hardy plant that tolerates poor soils and drought conditions once established. Its deep taproot makes it difficult to transplant, so it is best left undisturbed in its chosen location. The plant’s velvety leaves and attractive seed pods provide interest throughout the seasons, turning almost black after a frost. (LS)