Indigofera australis – Australian Indigo –

Description

Indigofera – There are 700 or more species of evergreen or deciduous tree and shrubs, annuals and herbaceous perennials, in this genus. They are widely distributed in both Hemispheres in tropical and subtropical regions, in a variety of habitats. They are grown for their small, pea like, pink, mauve, and purple shaded flowers and elegant foliage. The flowers are rarely solitary, often held in loose or dense, terminal or axillary racemes or spikes. The usually pinnate leaves are arranged alternately. Grow in a shrub border or train against a warm, sunny wall, low growing species are useful in rock gardens. Grow in light, moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun or part shade. Prone to rust, root rot, and stem rot. I. australis – Australian Indigo – This evergreen, elegant, smooth spreading shrub from Australia grows to 6′ feet tall and wide. It produces blue-gray leaves divided into 9-21 leaflets each 1″ long with hairs on their undersides. It bears small, mauve-pink to magenta-red flowers in long heads in winter to summer, followed by brown pods. Zones 9-11