Bloomipedia
Eastern wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)
Photo: Eli Talhouk via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Eastern wild indigo

Baptisia tinctoria

Eastern wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) is a flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

Native to Massachusetts

Eastern wild indigo is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Massachusetts it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

25states where USDA records it
1,696MA sightings*
5,012U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Massachusetts

Quick look

Baptisia tinctoria is a herbaceous perennial plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to eastern North America.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 25 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Massachusetts. NatureServe
  • In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–July. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid summer. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2.5 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 1,696 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #89 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Massachusetts, most flowering sightings come in June–July.

Flowering records by month in Massachusetts (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (116 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IA (SH), IL (S1), KY (S1), ME (SH), VT (SH), WI (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records Eastern wild indigo in 25 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Eastern wild indigo a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.8 to 7.0 and winter lows down to 2 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
5.8 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
2 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
190
Annual precipitation range
35 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
16 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for BATI. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Baptisia gibbesii.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 414 counties across 23 states; the most are in Virginia (89), North Carolina (81), Pennsylvania (57).

Other Baptisia on Bloomipedia (3): Prairie false indigo, Cream wild-indigo, Tall blue wild indigo.

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, White clover, Red clover, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover.

More Massachusetts flowers

Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–September
White clover (Trifolium repens)

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–September
Purple crownvetch (Securigera varia)

Purple crownvetch

Securigera varia

★ PA state beautification and conservation plantIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: June–July

Sources