I just planted mine and left plenty of room on either side, but it will probably spread and fill it all out.

I've got mine in the tall, outer row of my daylily bed. The row is bleeding heart, Awakening rose, baptisia, another Awakening rose, and a tall plant (it's either filipendula or cimufuga).

The roses don't work there so I may dig them out next spring and don't know where on earth I'll put them, may have to offer on Freecycle.

I got 3 Purple stellas right behind the new baptisia, just planted them, and one is blooming already. I don't know how tall those get and may have to move them out of there, too. Baptisia is is Purple Smoke and supposed to get 3-4' tall which may block the purple lilies. Others should be ok, also some tall Mrs. R. O. Backhouse in that bed, a rose-colored astilbe, silver lamium, then hosta in the shortest row (quarter circular bed).

I never put things together right and tend to cram things too close.

I planted my baptisias along the edge of paths through my garden. Here's one of them:

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After they're done blooming I cut them back hard, to 12-15" tall, so that they're less prone to flopping on their neighbors.

You can't really see them yet, especially from this angle, but there are asiatic lilies to the right of this baptisia that come into their own right after the iris are done. Between the baptisia and the backdrop of spruces is a diablo ninebark.

I have Purple Smoke planted on the front edge of my patio. Most of the plants in this bed are much smaller/lower than the Baptisia, so I can see over this garden and down to the hill gardens when seated on the patio. I placed the Baptisia there out of necessity - most of my garden is too wet for it. Planted next to the concrete patio in the high part of my yard, baptisia does wonderfully.

I have found that planting this taller plant on the front edge among all the other smaller plants makes it into an automatic focal point and is very effective. I also centered the baptisia directly on the house doors leading to the patio, so this lovely foliaged plant/focal area can be seen easily from inside the house.

I have it underplanted with Firewitch Dianthus, which also are spread irregularly around the whole front edge of the patio, interspersed with other small plantings. The dianthus usually blooms just before the baptisia, but sometimes they bloom together. The mass blooming of the dianthus in this bed is really lovely in spring and the dianthus acts as a season-long unifier in an otherwise, one of a kind plant bed.

Both the flowers and the blue-green foliage of the dianthus work very well with the Baptisia foliage which also has a blue-green tint, although not as intense as the Cheddar Pinks do, creating a long lasting combo.

Other plants in the area include various small purple heucheras/heucherellas in the shady area, the marbled green heuchera Strawberry Candy (saturated pink flowers), and small hostas, including the reddish stemmed Red October and a number of small blue hostas, such as Blue Mouse Ears. Nearby is the Japanese painted fern with its grey-silver foliage with reddish highlights.

The sunny side is planted with mini daylilies in various shades of pink to red or red-eyed (with various bloomtimes), underplanted with Dragon's Blood Sedum (a spreader with rose-pink blooms mid-summer), and a small cherry red shrub rose to one side.

For later color there are some wine colored mums and two Rose of Sharons (one a height pruned single stem standard in the center of the bed (but slightly off center of the Baptisia) kept at about 6 ft, lavender with a reddish center, and one used as a small cutback shrub, white with a reddish center) behind a bit and to one side of the Baptisia.

As with Deeje, I also cut my Baptisia back to about 15 inches immediately after bloom. It regrows to about 2/3rds of its original height and stays very upright, never opening or leaning, until it blackens in very late fall and I cut it down (often in the first snow).

I place a squat sturdy looking pot with annuals (usually several coleus) on the patio directly in front of the Baptisia to cover its regrowth period. The Baptisia with its vase shape later provides a wonderful frame for the coleus pot.

Sorry, for whatever reason, I couldn't find an overall picture with the dianthus and the other plantings. Here is a picture taken the first year I used coleus in a container in front of the Baptisia. I never would have had the nerve to do this color combo, it was simply what I had potted already when I first hard pruned the Baptisia and went eeeeekkkkk at the results! It works amazingly well, so should give you some other color ideas. Anyway, I never use any annual combo twice - always trying something new. :))

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Thanks all for the valuable experience and inspiring pictures.
aliska, mine is more than 6-7 years old, its size seems to take off after the first few years. I suspect all serious gardeners are doing what you did; never ending change and tune.
deeje, very tasteful composition; always love to other gardener's ccomposition pictures.
leslie, That is a cool colour combination; I was thinking of a similar scheme using heuchera e.g. Obsidian and Tara.

I might also try some red ornamental grass e.g. Imperata cylindrica 'Rubra' or a cream colour grass. I have not tried to cut back my baptisia before. From the feedback, it appears that would be a big improvement on managing this beautiful perennial, which I under-appreciate until a couple of years ago. I have added a couple more varieties to my hitlist for next spring (Baptisia 'Midnite Prairieblues' and Baptisia 'Twilite Prairieblues').

My baptisia australis is half-way down the back of my large border when viewing from the porch. It has been there a long time and in mid and late summer has the appearance of a shrub--almost twice as tall as a peony which is also back against the fence but at least 10 feet closer than the false indigo. My only complaint about the
baptisia is its short bloom time. Not immediately next to
it but at several places in the vicinity I have dark blue
columbines, Caesar's brother Siberian Iris, large colonies
of cluster bellflower and adenaphora. I love the way the deep blue and purple travels down the border--not all blooming at once but overlapping. The pink of peonies, white of valerian and achillea 'the pearl' fluff and lighten things up.

Now in September, I enjoy the still bluegreen foliage of the baptisia contrasting with the blackened seed pods.

Chris

Your border sounds nice, Grandmachris. Would love to see a pic!

I have Baptisia 'Twilight Prairie Blues' and 'Carolina Moonlight'. Also started B. australis and B. leucantha (white flowers) from seed last year, but they haven't bloomed yet.

I think Baptisia looks good with other plants that have Blueish-green foliage, and complementary flowers that bloom at the same time. Also, xeric plants for a sunny, dry position, since Baptisia is very drought-tolerant. Irises and ornamental grasses come to mind, but there are probably lots of others.

Here's a pic from Spring 09 of part of the "Xeric Garden". Baptisia 'Twilight Priarie Blues' in the background and some dark purple Irises, which I got at a swap 2 years ago - they bloomed for the first time this year, at the same time as the Baptisia, and I love them! In August I moved the Irises in front of the Baptisia, and am going to move some Little Bluestem nearby, and possibly Panicum amarum 'Dewey Blues'.

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I never thought about cutting Baptisia to 15". I usually trim mine up and stake it. I would love not to have to stake it! Even with staking it seems to flop and overpower everything next to it. Next season I'm going to cut way back...Thanks for the idea!

some varied suggestions: peonies;yellow foliage (chamaecyparis nana lutea, philadelphus aurea, deutzia chardonnay pearls, carex bowle's golden) purple foliage (berberis crimson pygmy or helmond's pillar,ppl lf sand cherry,physocarpus, perilla).
best,
mindy

leslie and Chris, is your Baptisia in full sun? Is your coleus in full sun? Pat

Yes, my baptisia and coleus are both in full sun, and in a south facing garden. Of course, it is zone 5 sun. The coleus in the picture, Saturn and Pinapple, both tolerate sun very well, but the ones I used this year are not the sun tolerant types. They are however on the north side of the baptisia, which gives them some shade as the summer progresses and the baptisia regrows from the cutback to 15 inches.

I grow my baptisia in a tomato cage. It grows thru so you can't see the cage and makes it behave.

The best accidental masterpiece that happened in my garden was self-seeding Rose Campion mixed in with baptisia.
After the baptisia flowers leave, the folliage is so healthy and vibrant. The hot pink flowers of the Rose Campion floated throughout the baptisia bush at varying heights so it looked as though it had hot pink flowers.

As far as matching the blue flower color of the baptisia-look across the color wheel and orange/salmon is an easy complementary color. It reminds me of the flowers on the sweat pea cousin of Baptisia.

I have a new Baptisia 'Purple Smoke' in it's second year, just about to open it's blooms and Iris are the only thing that may bloom at the same time and are nowhere near it. I have Roses and a Butterfly Bush near it and they won't be blooming in time. It seems a shame it has no pretty companion plant that blooms at the same time. Peonies have been suggested. I've had some in the past and would be luck to get a week of bloom, so not so sure I want to do that, unless there are no other choices. Anyone have another idea? I want something similar in size and not something like a Dianthus or Heuchera that are around the feet of the Baptisia.

This is a busy flowering time in my garden: Nepeta, Amsonia hubrichtii (foliage contrast is lovely all season), perennial salvias including S. nemorosa 'Caradonna' and one I can't recall the name of, Globemaster Allium as well as a tall white one, several penstemons, lupine, several clematis, several perennial geraniums and Siberian Iris (some kinds with high bud count or repeat bloom will bloom for 3 weeks or so) and several bearded iris. Also think about small shrubs, especially those with interesting foliage to make a season-long composition: Deutzia 'Chardonnay Pearls' has gold foliage and Nikko is about the same size with green foliage, tall rosemary (annual here and not blooming yet, but nice), or Caryopteris 'Sunshine Blue' which while not blooming until fall, is a mound of bright gold foliage.

I put perennial geraniums in front of mine, which for me in zone 7 are just barely beginning to bloom when the baptisia is blooming. I have aquilegia 'irish elegance' on the opposite side of the bed, though, that matches peak bloom time almost exactly with baptisia. I never thought about placing it at the base of the baptisia, unfortunately. Sure would make a pretty combination, though. I have a picture of my irish elegans in one of my ideabooks under my profile if you're interested in that possibility. but I keep going back and looking at Leslie's photo - that's probably the prettiest suggestion of all. Really gorgeous contrast!

I like the idea of Nepeta or Deutzia... will have to try that. :)

NHBabs - I do have Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ in another area, that actually looks like it is getting ready to open and it might be the height I was looking for. The Baptisia is open at this point. I notice I have some Iris blooming in another area and one that is almost open. I have stopped using Salvias in that bed because they don’t thrive in my clay/loam soil. Globemaster Allium is one I hadn’t thought of and an interesting idea. Amsonia is another interesting idea. I just bought a ‘Blue Ice’ and used it in another area. It is a tiny plant at this point, so maybe I’ll try it here too. I wonder does it bloom at the same time as the Baptisia? Mine is not going to bloom this year.

The perennial Geraniums…I have a few that are two low for my purposes. I also don’t see them getting ready to bloom. I do have one that is just starting. I would want something that was at least a foot and a half tall, so maybe I need to look for another one. Penstemons - I have ‘Dark Towers’ but it’s nowhere near to blooming. I’ll have to check out the ‘Chardonnay Pearls’ I think gold looks good with it. I’m not sure if Caryopteris is completely hardy here. Thanks, I like your ideas.

Kz, yes, I have ‘Karmina’ and ‘Biokovo’ Geranium and a few NOID versions. Only one is just starting to bloom, and it is a NOID. My Aquilegia are just starting to open. Matching the exact bloom period is difficult because it is such a short season of bloom. I’ll have to look for that ‘Irish Elegance’ Aquilegia. I’ll check out your idea book, thanks.

I also love Leslie’s photo. After it blooms, it does look less interesting and for the rest of the summer, the coleus would work well. As a matter of fact, I did a google search at some point and that photo came up, and I had been planning to try that.

My ‘Purple Smoke’ in bloom, has me scratching my head right now. Last year was it’s first year and it was a small plant so I only had a few blooms, but I remember them as dusky purple. This year, not only do they look more blue than purple, but the flowers look to have a white eye. Does that match anyone’s description of the ‘Purple Smoke’?

I think a trip to the nursery is needed. Thanks!

Kez - Your 'Irish Elegance' Aquilegia is very pretty. Large white flowers…nice! I see you have 'Carolina Moonlight'. How do you like it?

That Ninebark is such a pretty contrast. Which variety of Ninebark is it? I wouldn’t have room for a full size, but I notice there’s a new dwarf version, ‘Tiny Wine’ but it’s still too big for me @ 4ft x 5ft. Although, I believe I’ve read that you can cut them to the ground every year. I do like the contrast of the foliage between the Amsonia and the Baptisia. It’s a pretty trio. OH…no feathery foliage w 'Blue Ice'. Yes, I can see that, now that you mention it, the leaves of my 'Blue Ice' are rounded, and similar to the Baptisia. Too bad. I think the hubrichtii is going to be too large for me there.

Very pretty combo with the ‘CMoonlight’ and the Alliums. I do enjoy your border.

And the Penstemon idea, is noted. Yes, I love a lot of plants that need sharp drainage but nowhere on my property can I provide it. Although I've had 'Dark Towers' for a few years and seems to be tolerating that location. And I saved seed last fall and winter sowed them and have a bunch of little seedings. Maybe I could use that as the dark foliage contrast.

Thanks for the help. :-)

My Ninebark is Physocarpus 'Coppertina'.

an entirely accidental sowing of the little annual cerinthe has accompanied a wedge of 'Purple Smoke' for the past few years (the cerinthe obliges by self seeding)...with a large mass of angelica 'Ebony (that foliage colour!). The bright green deschampsia 'Tatra Gold) and a deep purple salvia (Nachtvlinder) completes a refreshingly airy lime and purple drift.

Thanks NHBabs, I have 'Summer Wine'. They seem very similar. Not sure if there is any difference at all.

I had to look up Cerinthe. Quite pretty. hardy to zone 7 here and I'm zone 6. Angelica 'Ebony' has that dark contrast, like NHbabs Ninebark. The Deschampsia is nice too. I love the color of that Salvia. I've tried a similar Salvia a few times and it just sits there doing very little and then does not winter over for me. I may try something similar to that in a pot this year. As is often the case, lots of plants available in the UK that I wish were available here.

Thanks.

Yep, the cerinthe is a hardy perennial to zone 7 but mostly it is grown as an annual (sown direct in/April and can be grown anywhere (although I appreciate annuals are a pain for many gardeners). I always have to pinch myself to remember we have different plant inventories from the US. Apols, PM.

No apology needed. I enjoyed hearing what you grow with Baptisia. And I will check out Cerinthe, because I really like it. I would grow it as an annual, but short season in zone 6, I'll have to see about starting from seed, since I've never seen it offered in a nursery here.

PM2, Annie's Annuals sometimes has Cerinthe, but don't have it in stock now. I think I may have seen it somewhere else as well, but I will have to think a bit to see if I can recall where.

Prairiemoon2, i'm slow to reply to your question of how I like my baptisia 'carolina moonlight', but yes, I love it. The yellow has a good saturation that is rich without being harsh and seems to me would blend with most other colors well. I really like it paired with blues/purples.

Campanula, many thanks for introducing me to cerinthe! Like prairiemoon2, i had to look it up since I wasn't familiar with it. That is one gorgeous plant. I added it to one of my ideabooks so I won't forget to try it.

My Baptisia is small yet, just visible to the left, but I used to have a big one in the same area. Then it is able to hold itself against the oriental poppies I love there. Gold variegated Iris pallida dalmatica would be beautiful at its feet too. Flowers compatible blues with vastly different shape, foliage also glaucous, but with the gold to liven up the picture all through the season. Geranium magnificum would be tall enough to hide the baptisia's bare legs, and it blooms at the same time. Itoh peony Bartzella also catches up with the club, it just starts a few days later. You can see it to the left, on the point of opening its buds.

Crocosmias would look beautiful in that garden. I have red but there are yellow and a yellow/ red combo.