Indigofera heterantha
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- in-dee-GO-fer-uh het-er-AN-thuh
- Description
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Himalayan Indigo is a deciduous shrub in the bean family (Fabaceae) native to Afghanistan to Tibet and N. Myanmar. The Latin specific epithet heterantha means "with various or diverse flowers"
Grow Himalayan indigo in full sun in most any well-drained soil. In hot summer areas, it will appreciate some afternoon shade. The shrub can reach up to 7 feet tall and wide, with horizontal branches reaching 5 to 7 feet. It is drought-tolerant once established. In colder climates, it may die down to the ground and return in spring. It blooms on new growth so pruning can be done in late winter.
The hot pink to purple flowers appear from June to October in North Carolina in 3- to 5-inch clusters of pea-shaped flowers. The leaves are compound and are similar-looking to the mimosa tree. Dark purple seed pods follow the blooms.
Himalayan indigo has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Use this shrub in a cottage, cutting or pollinator garden. It will add color summer into fall and attract pollinators.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Indigofera
- Species:
- heterantha
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The seeds have been used to treat gastrointestinal and abdominal disorders,
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Afghanistan to Tibet and Himalaya
- Wildlife Value:
- The flowers attract butterflies and bees.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dark purple seed pods are narrow, 1.5 to 2 inches long and contain 6 to 10 seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 3 to 5 inch erect racemes of pea-shaped bright pink to purple flowers occur in the leaf axils from June to October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnate leaves are 2 to 4 inches long with up to 21 grey-green or blue-green small oval leaflets. Gray appressed hairs on both sides; apex with a short bristle-like tip.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are covered in fine, bristly white or grayish hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
