Indigo Indigofera amblyantha
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Indigo:
- Phonetic Spelling
- in-dee-GO-fer-uh am-BLY-an-tha
- Description
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Indigo is a deciduous shrub in the bean family (Fabaceae) native to China and can be found growing along streams and in woodlands.
Indigo grows 4 to 6 feet tall and wide in a rounded form in well-drained soils in full sun. In hot humid areas, it will appreciate some afternoon shade. In colder climates, it will die down but come back in spring. Blooming is on new growth, so late winter pruning is best to encourage more flowers.
The flowers are in narrow racemes 2 to 5 inches long with pale rose to deep pink pea-shaped flowers. They are produced from the leaf axils from June to October. The hairy leaves are compound with 7 to 11 leaflets. The dark purple seed pods that follow are downy and up to 1.75 inches long.
Use indigo as a hedge, a specimen, in a border or in groups. The dye indigo is obtained from this genus.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. purdomii
Larfer lilac-pink flowers
- var. purdomii
- var. purdomii
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- var. purdomii
Larfer lilac-pink flowers
- var. purdomii
- var. purdomii
- 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:
- Erect
- Open
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- 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 Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dark purple downy bean pods are up to 1.75 inches long
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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 Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- 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 Shape:
- Ovate
- 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 are ovate and 1.25 inches long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are covered with pressed, whitish hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Cottage Garden
- English Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Diseases
- Heat
