Hi,

I've had mine for three years now. Every fall, around late October I cut it down to about a foot, with the first hard frost the whole plant turns black. It doesnt hurt the plant at all, plus I dont like the look of the foliage like that. Every year it is bigger and better. I also trim back lightly after it blooms, for a more compact plant.

Jen

Thanks Jen, glad to know I can get rid of it and neaten up the bed without hurting the plant. I also would like to trim it back after flowering as it is getting too large for the bed it is in. How much do you trim it back after flowering, and do you cut off all the foliage?

Hi again : ) After blooming I only cut a few inches off the stems, believe me it will grow back quickly, and you'll have a more upright plant.

Jen

Thanks Jen, I'll try that. :-)

I cut my Purple Smoke back by a third and it still returns to a good height. Picture taken 7/25/06.

{{gwi:283148}}

Hi! I have also had baptisia in my garden for many years - it's one of my favorite spring flowering plants. I cut mine back about this time of year - after the first hard frost, when everything turns black. And it comes back beautifully for me every spring.

When I think of it, I put one of those grow-through plant support things on mine when it's just starting to come up - it works wonders for keeping it upright. A peony hoop would also work nicely - as the plant, and others around it grows, it hides the hoop.

You can prune them just like you would a shrub after they're done flowering, shaping it with pruners or shrub shears. It fills out nicely and the foliage stays pretty all season long.

Great shot of your smoke tree, Leslie. :-) It is very pretty. It reminds me of a sedum.

Deb, I forgot to put support under my two Baptisia last year until they were up about two feet and then tried getting small tomato cages over them. lol I managed to get one on but one had to stay without one. What a difference it made. The one without support was all over the ground by the end of the season, covering the surrounding plants. I enjoy our baptisias too. Very pretty plant even when not in bloom.

Since we are on the subject, what do you grow with your baptisias?

:-)

Prairiemoon, I have a beautiful pink peony in front and slightly off to the side of the baptisia. I wish I could remember what the name of it is - I have the tag, but I can't get to it now because our house is all torn up to have some floors refinished...but it's bright pink with a deep yellow center and in front of the blue of the baptisia it's a stunning combination. It's hard to get something good to bloom at the same time as the baptisia, but this peony is perfect!

This year, I also planted some narcissus in the garden where the baptisia is - some of them are late bloomers and I'm hoping they'll be putting on a show at about the same time the baptisia is in bloom. I can't wait until spring!

Sorry to take so long to respond, have been having computer problems..

Thanks Deb for that idea. I do have one pink peony that someone gave me at a swap, but haven't seen it bloom yet. I am expecting it next year. Sounds like a pretty combination. I can't wait for spring either. :-)

What is the name of that cute daylily on the right?

Shapiro,

My guess is Strawberry Candy. Sure looks like it, but just a guess.

Thanks Prairiemoon for the Qs on Baptisia. I grew 7 from seed and hope to see flowers in spring 2007. Mine finally turned with a frost a week ago so I'll trim, and all the other pointers offered are great!

I was just rereading the thread and noticed that Leslie's photo was identified as her Purple Smoke. I puzzled over that, and now realize that she wasn't referring to a 'smoke tree' but probably a variety of baptisia called 'Purple Smoke'. Is that right? [g]

tiffy...glad the thread was helpful and wow you must have a lot of room to use 7 baptisia. Mine got to be really large. They didn't bloom til the third year and they are in afternoon sun only. Hope yours will bloom next year.

:-)

Shapiro,
The daylily is Siloam Merle Kent, an oldie but a goodie! Here is a closeup. It is a small daylily with a somewhat purple effect in the garden. BTW, the other small DL facing the wrong way is Siloam Virginia Henson, it is similar but more cream-colored and has a redder eye than SMK.

{{gwi:283149}}

Prairiemoon2,

Yes, the first picture is a picture of my Baptisia Purple Smoke, right on the edge of my patio. It is 4 years old and already has gotten too big for its spot, but that was the only location where I could find the right condtions for it.

Baptisia PS starts up late in the spring, but gets about 4ft x 4 ft by early summer and will continue to grow at least a bit taller & wider over the next few years.

So.....Immediately after bloom I cut it back by half. It regrows to about 3 ft tall and about 30 inches wide which gives the small daylillies & other plants a chance to put on their show a bit later in the season.

4 ft by 4 ft???? I think I'm in trouble!!!!!

OK, next question...

Are these fussy movers? My plants are only going to be three years old - from seed - spring of 2007. Tap root?

Yes, they are taprooted...up to 15 feet deep. When I moved mine 4 years ago, I got as much of the root as I could, about 2 feet. It did not bloom the spring after I moved it, but it survived. It bloomed the following year. It's a huge plant..about 4.5 feet tall and about 6 feet across.

Yes, mine are in a less than optimal spot and that is the reason they are still there..lol. I heard how difficult they were to move and I didn't want to lose a season of bloom because I waited three years actually to see bloom. I would advice anyone considering placing these in the garden to consider doing the best you can to site them right the first time and be willing to leave them there for a long time.

They do really want full sun. I have them in afternoon sun from 11:30pm until about 4pm and the blooming has been less than what I am sure it can do. One plant in the same border, evidently gets a little less sun due to trees shading it a little sooner than 4pm and it didn't bloom at all. They also get pretty large and I have had to use support for mine or it is all over the surrounding plants. Maybe due to not enough sun as well? It is very pretty when in bloom and is up against my cream colored siding and that makes it pop too. Maybe next year after it blooms I will move it. [g]