Perennial. Native to North America. The common variety has shaggy heads of scarlet flowers in late summer, but there are pink & purple forms as well. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) has lavender flowers and has the most medicinal properties.

Harvest leaves in Spring / Summer when the flowers appear. Pick flowers when open. Use fresh or dry.

Full description here.

Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue wild indigo or blue false indigo, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae (legumes). It is toxic. It is native to much of central and eastern North America and is particularly common in the Midwest, but it has also been introduced well beyond its natural range.

Naturally it can be found growing wild at the borders of woods, along streams or in open meadows. It often has difficulty seeding itself in its native areas due to parasitic weevils that enter the seed pods, making the number of viable seeds very low. From wikipedia.