Asian Indigo
Indigofera subulata var. scabra
- Native to:
- Belize, Benin, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mexico, Mozambique, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Panamá, Peru, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, United States, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Indigofera
- Species:
- Indigofera subulata var. scabra
- USDA Symbol:
- INOX
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 60 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, red
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rootstock after fire; typical of many legumes in fire-prone habitats.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Legume family seeds often benefit from hot water treatment or mechanical scarification.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI