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Kirilow Indigo Indigofera kirilowii

Phonetic Spelling
in-dee-GO-fer-uh kir-ih-LOV-ee-eye
Description

This low growing dense suckering shrub is 2-3 ft high with 3-4ft width and suckering habit which can be used as a ground cover. It is drought tolerant and accepts a range of soil types including clay.  It will tolerate alkaline soils. Originally native to Korea, northern China and southern Japan, it prefers some partial afternoon shade in the hot, humid summers of the deep South. The compound bright green leaves take on a gold color in fall.  In zones 5 and 6 it can be grown as an herbaceous perennial by cutting the stems back to the ground in the winter before new growth emerges.  Even in warmer climates, the structure of the plant looks more attractive after giving it a hard winter prune.  

The flowering time is June and July, however, it can bloom sporadically to September.  The pea-shaped blooms of pink are held in dense racemes of 4-5 inches. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#low growing#shrub#pink flowers#fall interest#mixed borders#foundation planting#groundcover#naturalizes#naturalized area#dense growth
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#low growing#shrub#pink flowers#fall interest#mixed borders#foundation planting#groundcover#naturalizes#naturalized area#dense growth
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Indigofera
    Species:
    kirilowii
    Family:
    Fabaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Ground cover
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    China to Japan
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Dense
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Legume
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    4"-5" total length erect rose-colored axillary racemes on new growth from June-July and sometimes intermittently until September. Resemble pea flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Bright green 7-11 rounded leaflets on pinnately compound leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Erect
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting