In the big bed are 4 types of Baptisias: B. alba, B. australis, mixtures thereof, and 'Purple Smoke', itself a sterile B. minor/ alba hybrid. My oldest B. australis looks like 'Purple Smoke' with green stems and a slightly deeper lavender color. Then this young one bloomed for the first time and the flowers were much bluer than that of the more mature one.
Isn't it a lovely violet-blue?
The older purple one
Best of all, they're side by side so they can complement each
other. Here's the purple one in front with the blue one behind.
other. Here's the purple one in front with the blue one behind.
No foliage up north yet on this indispensable plant. Your photos make me want to look for other varieties!
ReplyDeleteIt IS lovely! I grow this one! :) Well, it's out there somewhere. If the weather ever warms up it might grow!
ReplyDeleteIt is gorgeous! How long did it take to reach this size?
ReplyDeleteOoh, I can't wait for mine to bloom. It is getting scrunched out by two shrubs so I know I have to move it next year and I know they don't like being moved. Eep!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful together and I especially love the pink flowers in the background which I think are the perfect combination to compliment each other. Anyone seeing my gardens would figure out that I think that right away! LOL
ReplyDeleteI was certain I left a comment here but I don't see it. I was given a baptisias australis and am trying to decide where to put it. After being given this one, I saw several hybrids and now I wonder if one of the hybrids would be better.
ReplyDeleteYours are so pretty. Maybe I should follow your lead and grow several.
Marnie
Tina I think the blue one is about 3 years ago and the purple one about 5.
ReplyDeleteMonica I don't know about where you are, but here they don't mind being moved all that much. 'Purple Smoke' used to be at the edge of the path; one year late in the summer I mowed it by accident. It didn't come back up so I figured I'd killed it. As it turned out, it already had next year's growth buds and came up robustly the next spring. I dug it, thinking it would just get mowed again, divided it in two, and now both starts are about 4 feet tall.
Marnie, maybe you were fooled by the word verification? I always try to check that the comment has been saved but sometimes I leave and the comment hasn't actually gone through. Or could be a Blogger glitch. There seem to be a lot of those.
It's so pretty!! I'm excited to see mine coming up with more flowerbuds then ever. I hope it looks as good as yours.
ReplyDeleteThose blooms are so elegant. I'm still waiting for my Twilite Prairieblues to flower, it's still early up here. But really, I have baptisia in my garden for the big bushy clean foliage all summer. I love its green leaves the best!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I love the cool blues of this plant, though I don't think it will grow here.
ReplyDeleteI must plant me some of these. They are beautiful! How long will they be in bloom? Carla
ReplyDeleteHow lovely. I love the deep purples and light tones of the blooms. I bet the hummingbirds love them too.
ReplyDeleteI love them both and I agree they look pretty with the pink flowers behind. I planted one last year and it is up about 4 inches now.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn
Beautiful photos, and such a soothing blend of purples and pinks. You have the loveliest garden!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! They are a very hot plant here this year as the nurseries are carrying new selections.
ReplyDeleteI love these plants and think your photos are perfect.....I wish mine bloomed longer. gail
ReplyDeleteTheir tall purple spires are so pretty. I agree that they look especially good with the pink flowers behind, a pretty colour combination. In the third photo, they look like exclamation marks in the garden.
ReplyDeleteIndeed a lovely colour, I like those soft colours at your place, from lilac to pink, romantic garden you are showing right now :)
ReplyDeleteThey're all lovely and the different shades look lovely together!
ReplyDeleteThe older one looks just like the ones I saw at the Lurie Garden in Chicago last year, which is where I fell in love with this plant. Now I'm not sure which type I have, but it really doesn't matter--they're all gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI planted three of the Purple Smoke last summer. The garden rabbit mowed them down to the ground repeatedly. I had not a bit hope for them and was shocked when they managed to come back this year. Of course, if a rabbit takes up residence on that side of the back yard, the baptisia will be in trouble.
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