Årets staude: Baptisia australis - Fargeskolm

Kjært barn har mange navn: Blåfargeskolm, australfargeskolm, fagerskolm og blåfagerskolm… Skjønt – jeg mistenker de to sistnevnte for å være skrivefeil… Men det kan jo være motsatt! Hvis noen vet, virkelig vet – og ikke bare tror – så legg igjen en kommentar!

Perennial Plant Assosiation har altså valgt Baptisia australis (der kom vi jammen utenom den norske navneforvirringa) til “Perennial Plant of the Year – 2010”. Et godt valg!

Nok en gang viser jeg bilder fra 2009, og her et bilde av Baptisia’en slik den så ut i slutten av mai. Fine, lyse grønne stengler som etterhvert blir rundt en meter.

Bare tre uker senere, i midten av juni, så planten(e) slik ut! Da var de akkurat i ferd med å begynne blomstringa. Bildet lyver imidlertid litt, for den fine blålilla fargen i midten av baptisiaen er rett og slett ei tue med storkenebb som sto lenger bak i bedet!

På dette bildet ser du bedre at den blålilla fargen kommer fra storkenebb-planten bak – og du ser også de første blomstene på baptisiaen.

Jeg hadde vært på jakt etter planten et par år da jeg fant den på et hagestevne på Gjennestad planteskole i Vestfold. Jeg kjøpte med meg tre planter som jeg plantet i en liten trekant – og når de vokser opp ser det ut som en stor plante. Neste bilde viser bedre hvordan den ser ut når den er i full blomst!

Og en tidlig morgen første uka i juli ser baptisiaen slik ut, der den står i bedet sammen med marikåpe, rødknapp, hvite campanula – og andre planter.

Jeg har hatt stor glede av baptisiaen i hagen, – den kommer trofast igjen, år etter år, og jeg skulle gjerne hatt et par planter til. Den skal imidlertid ikke deles, på grunn av rota si, så jeg må vel prøve å få samla noen frø i år – og så nye planter selv! – I forrige uke fant jeg dessuten ut at det finnes en hvit sort ‘Alba’, – og det var kjekt å vite, for da har jeg en ny plante å være på jakt etter når jeg skanner gjennom staudeavdelingen på hagesentre i løpet av de neste åra! (Jeg må nesten si at jeg håper jeg ikke finner den altfor fort – det er så kjekt å ha noe å være på jakt etter!)

Jeg skal ta bedre bilder av Baptisiaen i sommer enn jeg gjorde i fjor. – Som “Perennial Plant of the Year 2010” ligger det nok litt i kortene at vi kommer tilbake til planten mer enn ei gang!

Knut Olav

Her følger litt mere “facts” for den som måtte ha fattet interesse for planten:

Perennial Plant Assosiation skriver følgende om Baptisiaen:

“Baptisia australis

Blue false indigo grows three to four feet tall and three to four feet wide in an upright habit. This exceptional perennial grows across a wide range of zones and is one of the most adaptable native species.
Newly emerging shoots produce violet-blue, lupine-like flowers in erect 10- to 12-inch racemes atop flower stems extending well above the foliage mound of clover-like, trifoliate, bluish-green leaves. The spring flowers are present for three to four weeks. The flowers give way to inflated seed pods which turn charcoal black when ripe and which flower arrangers consider to be ornamental. The common name, blue false indigo, refers to the use of this perennial by early Americans as a dye.
Baptisia australis is an excellent plant to anchor the back of the border. It is also valuable for cottage gardens, native plant gardens, and native area of prairies and meadows. It is best as a specimen or planted in small groups. Blue false indigo can be used with bulbs and other spring flowering perennials to make interesting combinations.

• Light - Plants thrive in full sun. Plants grown in partial shade may require staking.
• Soil - This North American native is easily grown in well-drained soil and is drought tolerant after establishment.
• Uses - This spring flowering shrub-like perennial may be used to fill the back of the border or in the wild garden.
• Unique Qualities - The combination of flower and leaf color is dramatic in the early blooming season. Flowers are followed by inflated seed pods that are useful for dried flower arrangements.
• Hardiness - USDA zones 3-9”

Du kan laste ned en pdf-fil med opplysninger om planten hvis du klikker på lenken her!
(Eller les her på slutten av blogginnlegget mitt:)

“Baptisia australis is the Perennial Plant Association’s 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year™. Baptisia, pronounced bap-TEEZ-ee-uh aw-STRAH-lis, carries the common names blue false indigo, wild indigo, and baptisia. Less commonly occurring names are indigo weed, rattleweed, and rattlebrush. This Eastern United States native is member of the Fabaceae family (formerly Leguminosae). The name of the genus, Baptisia, is derived from the Ancient Greek word, bapto, meaning to dip (dye) or immerse, while the specific epithet, australis, is Latin for southern.

Blue false indigo grows three to four feet tall and three to four feet wide in an upright habit. This exceptional perennial grows across a wide range of zones and is one of the most adaptable native species. Often, when first planted, baptisia has only several stems and appears sparse. However, the clump goes from a slow start to really flourishing within three years, when it reaches full size.

Because Baptisia clumps expand to a diameter of approximately four feet with a shrub-like habit, these dimensions should be considered when plants are placed in the landscape. It grows best in full sun, but can survive partial shade. If the plant is grown in shade, staking may be in order to prevent flopping. It is drought tolerate, once established. It should be noted that this perennial has a tap root and should be placed in a permanent location. Some clumps are 20 years old and have not been divided. This low-maintenance quality is another attractive feature.

Newly emerging shoots produce violet-blue, lupine-like flowers in erect 10- to 12-inch racemes atop flower stems extending well above the foliage mound of clover-like, trifoliate, bluish-green leaves. The spring flowers are present for three to four weeks. The flowers give way to inflated seed pods which turn charcoal black when ripe, which flower arrangers consider to be ornamental. The dried seeds in the pods rattle in the autumn breezes, creating a nice sound effect. In earlier times the pods were popularly used by children as rattles. The common name, blue false indigo, refers to the use of this perennial by early Americans as a dye, albeit an inferior one, similar to the true indigo (genus Indigofera of the West Indies).

Baptisia australis is an excellent plant to anchor the back of the border. It is also valuable for cottage gardens, native plant gardens, and native area of prairies and meadows. It is best as a specimen or planted in small groups. Blue false indigo can be used with bulbs and other spring flowering perennials to make interesting combinations. Various Heuchera selections can create a skirt with leaf colors either echoing or contrasting the flower color. The purple blue range of Amsonia selections also make nice neighbors. Baptisia is a true American beauty that attracts a number of butterfly species to the garden.

There are no serious insect or disease problems. Taller plants may need support, particularly when grown in partial shade. A desirable attribute of blue false indigo is that it is seldom damaged by deer browsing. Baptisia is listed as containing several alkaloids having a bitter taste making the plant unpalatable to browsing.

Baptisia australis is seed propagated. Like many other legumes, it has a hard seed coat. Seeds must be scarified when germination occurs in an artificial setting. Seedlings may be transplanted when small; however, dividing large clumps is not advisable due to the tap root structure of this perennial.”

Og helt til slutt: Vil du se flere bilder av planten, så klikk på denne lenken og kom rett til google’s bildesøk på “Baptisia australis”.

Ko