Description
Indigofera –
There are 700 or more species of evergreen or deciduous tree and shrubs, annuals and herbaceous perennials, in this genus. They are widely distributed in both Hemispheres in tropical and subtropical regions, in a variety of habitats. They are grown for their small, pea like, pink, mauve, and purple shaded flowers and elegant foliage. The flowers are rarely solitary, often held in loose or dense, terminal or axillary racemes or spikes. The usually pinnate leaves are arranged alternately. Grow in a shrub border or train against a warm, sunny wall, low growing species are useful in rock gardens.
Grow in light, moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or part shade.
Prone to rust, root rot, and stem rot.
I. kirikowii – This deciduous, spreading shrub or subshrub from Northern China, Korea and Southern Japan grows 2-5′ feet tall and wide. From upright shoots it carries pinnate, bright green leaves, to 6″’ long, composed of up to 13 broadly ovate to almost diamond shaped leaflets. From early to mid summer it bears pea like, rose -pink flowers, to 3/4″ across, in dense upright racemes, to 5″ long.
Zones 6-9
