Indigofera pseudotinctoria Seeds | False Indigo
LATIN NAME: Indigofera pseudotinctoria
COMMON NAME: False Indigo
Plant Profile
Indigofera pseudotinctoria, better known as False Indigo, is a deciduous shrub in the pea family, native to warm, sunny places of the eastern Asia, while it is treasured for its fine, pink flowers. In pea family it is pink-flowered, nitrogen-fixing indigo of warm banks, a shrub that holds ground as it feeds the bees. Established plants reach around One metre. For the gardener, the sum of these traits is a plant that is easy to live with.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Indigofera pseudotinctoria, a representative of the pea family with clear practical value. False indigo holds a recognised place in soil-ecology papers of pea shrubs, and partnership between its roots and soil bacteria that draws nitrogen from air has kept ecologists interested for years. Centuries of cultivation have left a detailed record of how it grows and behaves.
Uses & Benefits
False Indigo works well in borders, containers and dedicated beds. In dry garden, false indigo is pink-flowered shrub that feeds the ground. Its pea-like flowers feed bees, its small, brown pods feed birds, and low, spreading, tough growth holds bank and shelters small creatures. It is treasured for long, upright clusters of pink flowers and easy ways in warm, sunny, well-drained ground. Establishment is uncomplicated, and afterwards ordinary care suffices.
Indigofera gave the world indigo, the blue of blue jeans, produced by fermenting the leaves; several species also serve as protein-rich forage and green manure.
Growing from Seed
False Indigo is one of those generous plants that come along well from seed. Fill a pot with a light seed compost, sow evenly on the surface, cover thinly and stand it somewhere warm, bright and evenly moist. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Given the right start, False Indigo is a long-term garden companion. Minor errors in timing or watering rarely cost the grower the crop.
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