Indigofera amblyantha
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- in-dee-GO-fer-uh am-BLY-an-tha
- Description
-
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, heat and drought tolerant when mature; 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 it flowers on new growth, it is best to prune to close to the ground or to live growth very early in the spring or even late 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.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
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.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Rounded
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- 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
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- Dark purple bean pods
-
-
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
-
-
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
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Heat
