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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:
#showy flowers#deciduous#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#lavender#shrub#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#spring flowers#showy fruits#stream banks#summer flowers#flowering shrub#long bloom time#flowers late spring#flowers midsummer#purple fruits#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#shrub borders#woodland
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#showy flowers#deciduous#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#lavender#shrub#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#spring flowers#showy fruits#stream banks#summer flowers#flowering shrub#long bloom time#flowers late spring#flowers midsummer#purple fruits#flowers early summer#flowers late summer#shrub borders#woodland
  • 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