Himalayan Indigo

(Indigofera heterantha)

Himalayan Indigo (Indigofera heterantha)

Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova

CC BY-SA 4.0

Image By: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: Nova | Publisher: Wikipedia Commons

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Indigofera heterantha, commonly known as Himalayan Indigo, is a deciduous shrub native to the rocky mountainous slopes and forest edges of the Himalayas, including regions in Afghanistan, Nepal, and Pakistan. It typically grows to 2–3 m (7–10 ft) tall and broad. Himalayan Indigo features pinnate leaves with up to 21 grey-green oval leaflets and produces racemes of purple pea-like flowers in summer, which are moderately showy and attract pollinators. The plant’s overall appearance is enhanced by its graceful, arching branches.

Himalayan Indigo is valued for its drought tolerance, hardiness down to −15 °C (5 °F), and its ability to adapt to a range of soil conditions, though it prefers well-drained soils. It is often used in ornamental plantings for its attractive foliage and flowers, and can be utilized in borders, as a specimen plant, or in naturalized areas. While it can be herbaceous in colder climates, dying back to ground level and regrowing each year, it is generally easy to maintain. This plant has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its exceptional qualities for garden use. It is best grown in full sun to part shade and requires low to medium amounts of water. Gardeners should be aware that it may require protection or mulching in colder regions to ensure regrowth after winter.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrub
Height: 4-6 feet
Width: 4-6 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Purple
Flowering Season: Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low, Medium
Drainage: Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Hedges, Hummingbird Garden, Showy Flowers, Street Planting

Natural Habitat

Rocky mountainous slopes and forest edges of the Himalayas

Other Names

Common Names: Indigo Bush, Himalaya-Indigostrauch, Rosenindigo

Scientific Names: , Indigofera heterantha, Indigofera gerardiana, Indigofera macrostachya, Indigofera heterantha var. gerardiana, Indigofera quadrangularis, Indigofera rubroviolacea, Indigofera gerardiana var. heterantha, Indigofera dosua, Anil macrostachya

GBIF Accepted Name: Indigofera heterantha Wall. ex Brandis