Flower profile

Eastern wild indigo

Baptisia tinctoria

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–August.

25states

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.
From Wikipedia's article Baptisia tinctoria, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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–August. ^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 #86 among the 110 flowers on our Massachusetts list. ^iNaturalist

Eastern wild indigo gift ideas

Handmade eastern wild indigo gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

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

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.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

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.

More Massachusetts flowers

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–September

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–October

Purple crownvetch

Securigera varia

★ PA state beautification and conservation plantIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: June–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile BATI.
iNaturalist, Baptisia tinctoria: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Baptisia tinctoria (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90).
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List (MDAR) (Text from MDAR's 2023 scientific-name PDF (mass.gov blocks automated downloads); 2024-2026 additions listed on the mass.gov page: Alnus glutinosa, Pyrus calleryana, Miscanthus sinensis, Aralia elata, Rhodotypos scandens, Symplocos paniculata.).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Baptisia tinctoria (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Eli Talhouk via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.