False Indigo, Starlite Prairie

Starlite Prairie False Indigo is a tough, native-bred perennial that offers a surprisingly long season of interest for such an undemanding plant. Its indigo-blue flower spikes rise above mounding blue-green foliage in late spring and early summer, drawing butterflies and small birds to the garden at a beautiful time of year. A Great Lakes native selection growing two to three feet tall, it settles into well-drained soil in full sun and quickly earns its reputation for drought tolerance and complete deer resistance. The foliage remains attractive all summer, and the decorative seedpods that follow the blooms rattle pleasantly in the breeze and provide late-season structure. Come fall, the foliage shifts to warm burgundy and copper-brown tones for a final flush of seasonal color. Mass it along a slope for erosion control, or group several plants in a sunny border for a bold, prairie-style planting that rewards minimal care.