Indigofera amblyantha
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- in-dee-GO-fer-uh am-BLY-an-tha
- Description
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Commonly known as Indigofera or indigo, this deciduous shrub grows on streams and in woodlands in its native south central China and is suited to average well-drained neutral to slightly alkaline soil and medium moisture. It can be sun, but in a hot, humid atmosphere, it benefits from afternoon shade. It can also suffer damage to the branch tips in a harsh winter.
As wide as it is tall, 4-6 feet, it's leaves are grey green of 4-6 inch pinnate leaflets, but the fall color is not distinguished. The flowering time, however, is extended from May to September. The pea-shaped blooms of pink to rose to lilac are held in narrow racemes of 2-5 inches and are followed by dark purple seed pods.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Indigofera
- Species:
- amblyantha
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Hedge, Containers, Borders, Specimen
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western China
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Dark purple bean pods
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- Pale rose to deep pink flowers summer to fall; borne on 2-5 in. narrow racemes
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, pinnate compound gray-green leaves; 4-6 in. long; 7-11 leaflets
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Heat
