Yes. Baptisia australis is the Perennial Plant of 2010, voted by the Perennial Plant Association.

I thought this flowering shrub with pretty bluish green foliage and tall flower stalks was very attractive when I found it in a local nursery about a month ago, not knowing that it was a winner. The flowers reminded me of the ornamental sweet peas, although much smaller, in violet.

False indigo indeed belongs in the pea family (Fabaceae) and genus Baptisia.

The plant has been called False Indigo because of its use "as a substitute for the superior dye-producing plant, namely Indigofera tinctoria," according to Wikipedia.

I planted the Baptisia australis in my sunny front garden, near other flowering shrubs.

5.20.10

It has grown much bigger and taller, now around 2 ft. and could get as tall as 3 - 4 ft. Its blooming period is supposed to last 3 - 4 weeks.

5.23.10

Baptisia australis can be used as cut flowers.

5.23.10