This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.

• Position: full sun
• Soil: well-drained, preferably sandy soil
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: April to June
• Hardiness: fully hardy
  
  The first of the bicoloured baptisias, this cultivar is one of a series of new forms that are the result of an American breeding programme by Hans Hansen. It's an easy to grow perennial that forms a bushy mound of attractive foliage, from which the smokey grey flower spikes emerge in mid-spring. Opening upwards from the base of the spike, the flowers are initially yellow, but as they age, they turn a rich raspberry - which means that you will usually have both yellow and pink flowers on the spike at the same time. Resist the urge to cut them back after the flowers have faded as they will go on to produce decorative seed pods.
  
  
• Garden care: Lift and divide large colonies in early spring if necessary, though they are best left undisturbed if you can since they develop deep tap roots which enable them to be more drought tolerant.