Horseflyweed
Baptisia tinctoria
Last reviewed: September 2026
Baptisia tinctoria is a sun loving forb that blooms yellow in June and July and thrives in dry, low water sites such as open woodlands and sandy fields across the eastern United States.
Toxicity unknown
Horseflyweed (Baptisia tinctoria) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
24"–36" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul
Native to
CT, DE, GA, IL and 19 more states
Pollinators
bumble bees
Before you buy
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A bushy rounded plant with small blue-green cloverlike leaves and short spikes of clear yellow pea flowers scattered across the top of the mound. It is deep-rooted, drought-proof once established, and needs no support.
Growing Horseflyweed
Grow Horseflyweed in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 36 inches tall and spread 24 to 36 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Host plant for wild indigo duskywing.
A confirmed larval host for the wild indigo duskywing, and the pea flowers are worked by large bumble bees.
Common questions
- When does Baptisia tinctoria bloom?
- It typically flowers in June and July, producing small yellow pea-like blossoms on branching stems.
- What pollinators visit Baptisia tinctoria?
- Bumble bees are the primary visitors, working the flowers for nectar and pollen during the summer bloom period.
- What growing conditions does Baptisia tinctoria prefer?
- It does best in full sun to light part sun with dry, low water soil, often sandy or well drained sites like open fields, roadsides, and woodland edges.
- Is Baptisia tinctoria easy to grow in a home garden?
- Yes, once established it tolerates poor, dry soil and needs little supplemental watering, making it a low maintenance choice for sunny beds.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
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