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. tinctoria ‘Rose Carpet’ – This deciduous, spreading shrub from Southeastern Asia grows 24″ tall and wide. It produces pinnate leaves, to 3″ long, each with 8-14 obovate, mid green leaflets that are hairy beneath. In mid summer it bears erect racemes, to 3 ½” long, of pea like, rose-pink flowers, to ½” across. Useful as a groundcover or in a rock wall.
Zones 7-9
