Indigofera Species, Himalayan Indigo

Indigo heterantha is quite popular in England and has even gained the RHS award of merit yet it is rarely seen in American gardens or nur...Read Moreseries.

I have grown indigofera heterantha for four years at the sunny southeast corner of our brick house in a dry location with unimproved soil here in our Cincinnati temperate climate. It has grown from a one gallon can to a six foot tall by four foot wide shrub that blooms from August thru mid October with beautiful sprays of tiny lavender pink blossoms. In early winter, after bloom is over, we cut it down to ground level, and since it has a well developed root system, the shrub regrows to its former size by mid summer.

I originally planted it because I thought it was a false indigo which is a host plant for lepidoptera, but soon I realized I had planted an I. Heterantha, also a member of the pea family, and apparently from my observations, liked by butterflies as well. Some other butterfly loving companion plants could include deep pink cone flowers, verbena bonarienses, goldenrods, New England asters, late daisies, and white ageratums

This is a stunning shrub that blooms late into autumn when there are few other shrubs and flowers in bloom. All of my visitors comment on its unusual and beautiful presence in our yard and I recommend it highly for autumn gardens with a sunny space to accommodate its size.

This plant's chief claim to fame is its continuous bloom from June to frost. The flowers are magenta-rose and self-cleaning. The flower d...Read Moreisplay is attractive, long and continuous but never overwhelming. The foliage is fine-textured and handsome.

Easy, vigorous, deep-rooted, clump-forming, tough as nails. Very drought-tolerant once established, this is a xeric plant and should not be over-watered. No pests or diseases here---the foliage stays clean and healthy till frost. Not particular about soil, as long as it's well-drained, and it fixes its own nitrogen.

This is a suckering woody plant with an upright habit, whose top growth my Z6a winters kill to the ground. The only care it needs is to be cut to the ground in the spring (perhaps better in fall after frost). It's late to emerge from dormancy in the spring, so don't be quick to assume it's dead when spring comes. Established plants get about 3' tall in the course of one season here, but in some milder climates (England) where the winters don't kill the top growth this can get to 8' or so.

Clump-forming, it suckers but is not an aggressive spreader.

The Royal Horticultural Society has granted this species its coveted Award of Garden Merit.

This is said to be hardy to Z5a.