Indigo Bush
Indigofera species (FABACEAE, formerly LEGUMINOSAE)
Planting and Growing Indigo Bush
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow indigo bush in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, pods, and seeds of indigo bush
- Growing conditions for indigo bush
- When and where to plant indigo bush
- How to plant indigo bush
- How to shape, prune and control growth of indigo bush
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of indigo bush
- Landscape uses of indigo bush
- Pest and disease control for indigo bush
Growing Indigo Bush
About 750 species of fast-growing, erect, woody, deciduous shrubs, 18–36 in. (45–90 cm) tall and wide, with alternate, smooth, bright green, oval, divided, rounded leaves, to 4 in. (10 cm) long, with 1–5-paired, oval leaflets, to 1-1/2-in. (38-mm) long.
Commonly cultivated species include Chinese indigo, Indigofera incarnata; Bernheim giant Chinese indigo, Indigofera kirilowii; and true indigo, Indigofera tinctoria.
Indigo Bush Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Seeds
Many pink, purple, rose, white, red, or yellow, pealike flowers, to 3/4-in. (19-mm) long, in erect, spiking clusters, 5–8 in. (13–20 cm) long, in summer, form beanlike pods containing seed in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 4–10, depending on species. Hardy.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained, sandy loam. Fertility: Rich–average. 6.0–7.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full sun. Space 10–20 in. (25–50 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Fertilize quarterly. Prune severely in spring, before growth begins. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Species
Good choice for borders, edgings in cottage, meadow gardens. True indigo, Indigofera tinctoria, is the source of indigo dye. Pest and disease resistant.
Related
Indigo Bush Indigofera species Chinese indigo Indigofera incarnata Bernheim giant Chinese indigo Indigofera kirilowii true indigo Indigofera tinctoria FABACEAE formerly leguminosae features description habit rate of growth how to grow shrubs growing shrubs planting shrubs how to plant shrubs how to care for shrubs care soil needs of shrubs soil medium sun light sunlight growing conditions for shrubs flowers and blooms hardiness region climate irrigating shrubs watering shrubs fertilize fertilizing shrubs propagate propagating shrubs shrub pests shrub diseases growing Indigo Bush planting Indigo Bush care Indigo Bush problems Indigo Bush pests and diseases fertilizing Indigo Bush watering Indigo Bush pruning Indigo Bush cold protection of indigo bush containers for indigo bush cultivating indigo bush diseases of indigo bush fertilizing indigo bush grow indigo bush grow indigo bush step-by-step growing indigo bush growing indigo bush in containers how does indigo bush grow how is indigo bush grown how to grow indigo bush how to plant indigo bush how to prepare soil for indigo bush how indigo bush grows mulching indigo bush pests of indigo bush pinching indigo bush plant indigo bush planting indigo bush planting indigo bush in beds planting indigo bush in containers protecting indigo bush from cold pruning indigo bush spacing indigo bush steps to grow indigo bush steps to plant indigo bush thinning indigo bush to grow indigo bush to plant indigo bush transplanting indigo bush U.S.D.A. plant hardiness zone for indigo bush watering indigo bush weeding indigo bush when to plant indigo bush where do indigo bush grow where to grow indigo bush where to plant indigo bush indigo bush annual pruning indigo bush care indigo bush cold protection indigo bush cultivation indigo bush cuttings indigo bush disease resistance indigo bush diseases indigo bush flowers indigo bush frost protection indigo bush fruit indigo bush growing indigo bush growing zone indigo bush grown indigo bush hardiness zone indigo bush in containers indigo bush in garden beds indigo bush in raised beds indigo bush irrigation indigo bush pest resistance indigo bush pests indigo bush pruning indigo bush soil needs indigo bush planting indigo bush propagation indigo bush seasonal pruning indigo bush seed indigo bush seedlings indigo bush shade needs indigo bush soil indigo bush soil fertility indigo bush soil pH indigo bush spacing indigo bush sun requirements indigo bush temperature indigo bush thinning indigo bush transplanting indigo bush tree care indigo bush watering indigo bush zone