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#Blue indigo plant full#

It is actually the plant’s leaves that are used to make the blue dye, though they are naturally green and must go through an involved extraction process first. In the summer, it produces attractive pink or purple flowers.

#Blue indigo plant full#

It prefersįertile, well-drained soil, moderate moisture, and full sun, except in very hotĬlimates, where it appreciates some afternoon shade.Ī medium shrub, the indigo plant will grow to 2 to 3 feet (61-91.5 cm.) in height and spread. As they mature, it will form an upright/erect shrubby appearance, however this plant will die back to the ground each Autumn. Hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11, where it grows as an evergreen.

As with other indigo varieties, however, it’s still an interesting addition to the home garden. These days, tinctoria indigo isn’t grown nearly as extensively, as it has been overtaken by synthetic dyes. Was a very popular crop in Colonial times. Since been naturalized the world over, including the American South, where it Least 4,000 BCE, long before good gardening records were being kept. The plant is thought to be native to Asia or northernĪfrica, but it’s difficult to be sure, since it’s been in cultivation since at Which has been used for thousands of years. However, that gives indigo color, so named for the deep blue dye it produces, Genus of over 750 species of plants, many of which go by the common name Keep reading to learn more about growing indigo plants in your garden. It’s still a wonderfully useful plant, however, and very much worth growing for the adventurous gardener and home dyer.

Indigo is an excellent colorant and has the best fixing power of all-natural pigments. Its root is derived from the Latin indicum, meaning 'Indian', as the dye was originally exported from India to Europe. In cultivation for millennia, it has fallen somewhat out of favor recently due to the invention of synthetic dyes. Indigo gets its name from the plant, Indigo, which can be made into Dacheng blue dye.

If the seed pods are left over winter, they will produce little seedlings, but they are easy to pull out.Indigofera tinctoria, often called true indigo or simply just indigo, is probably the most famous and widespread dye plant in the world.

The dye is derived from the leaves of the indigo plant that are red or purple.

Trimming foliage after bloom helps maintain a rounded plant appearance, but you will miss out on the attractive seed pods which are great to use in dried flower arrangements. Indigo, Indigofera tinctoria, is a shrub or small tree found in many countries in southeastern Asia.

Propagate by seed sown in pots in a cold frame as soon as the seed is ripe or propagate by division in early spring.

Great as a specimen plant or in small groups.

Looks stunning in beds and borders, cottage gardens, prairies or meadows, and native plant gardens.

Not susceptible to pest damage or disease.

Attracts scores of butterflies and hummingbirds.

Baptisia is rarely bothered by deer as they consider it unpalatable and is rabbit resistant.

Do not disturb once established as it develops a deep taproot that is easily damaged if you try to transplant it. Although it will grow in some shade, this plant tends to become leggy and may require staking.

Its requirements are fairly simple: Full sun in average, dry to medium, well-drained soils.

The exact equation to produce indigo is to mix one-third red and two-thirds blue. To make indigo, blue must be the dominant pigment in the equation. By the 7th century B.C, people began using the plant as a deep blue dye.

Spreads by underground rhizomes and typically grows up to 3-4 ft. The indigo plant was called nila, meaning dark blue.

Blooming in late spring to early summer, it is an extremely valuable addition to the garden and its seedpods help create lovely winter decorations.

Recipient of the Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society and named ' Perennial Plant of the year' in 2010 Baptisia australis, commonly known as blue wild indigo or blue false indigo, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae (legumes).

If left untrimmed, the plant forms interesting seedpods turning deep black in the fall and persist into winter.

When the flowers fade away, the lovely blue-green, trifoliate leaves remain neat and form a lovely backdrop for the other perennials in the garden. It helps germination if bottom heat of 75F is provided until seedlings emerge. If started indoors (or outdoors in spring), the seeds need to be scarified (rubbed between sandpaper). They last for about three weeks and attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Sow Baptisia australis seeds about 1/2 deep, outdoors in late fall or spring. In spring, this native to the North American prairies bears spikes of pea-shaped indigo blue flowers, resembling Lupines. Enhancement has vitamins nutrients and a bloom inducer in. Tough and durable, Baptisia australis (False Indigo) is an upright perennial with a long season of interest. Color is an organic enhancement natural and safe for the plants.