Rusty Indigo
Indigofera colutea
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Hainan, India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, Lesser Sunda Is., Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, New Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Indigofera
- Species:
- Indigofera colutea
- USDA Symbol:
- INCO82
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, red
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from root crown after fire or cutting; typical of many leguminous shrubs in fire-prone habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid and semi-arid regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds have hard seed coat requiring scarification (mechanical or hot water treatment) for best germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI