![]() There’s a plethora of garden plants out there, each one demanding immediate placement in your garden.īut as you browse and think over which to utilize next, don’t pass over the humble indigo plant. Reddish-orange/grayish-greePink, rose, violet/greenĪlkaline soils, clay soils, drought, heat (varies depending on species)īorder, cottage garden, dyemaking, ground cover, grouping, hedge, mass planting, rock garden, slopes, specimen, woodland areaĪmblyantha, decora, heterantha, kirilowii, tinctoria Woody deciduous shrub (herbaceous perennial in some Zones) Quick Reference Growing Guide Plant Type: decora reaches a max height of two and a half feet with a width of four feet. Indigofera tinctoria, commonly called true indigo, is a deciduous spreading tropical shrub or subshrub of the pea family that typically grows to 2-3 tall and. Native to China and Japan, Chinese indigo flowers heavily with pink blooms, even in moderate shade. If any of them tickle your fancy, you’re sure to find them available from select nurseries, online vendors, or even at horticultural shows. Let’s take a closer look at what makes each of the species alluded to above so unique and special. To prevent unwanted spread, clip suckers as soon as you happen to notice them. Since it has been cultivated for centuries, the native habitat of true indigo is not known. But it’s always a smart move to prune away any dead, dying, or diseased structures.Īdd a few inches of a light mulch such as straw, wood shavings, or shredded leaves to help retain moisture, stabilize the soil temperature, and protect the plant from harsh winter conditions.Ĭome spring, remove the mulch so new shoots are free to emerge. Though it had a long shelf life and didn’t take up much space, indigo dye was expensive to import, hence its nickname “blue gold.”įor plants that maintain living, aboveground shoots year-round in warmer climates, cutting back isn’t necessary. Whether acquired via trade or by harvesting what grew natively, indigo dye was valued and utilized in many ancient civilizations for dye-making, painting, cosmetics, medicines, and tattooing. With or without its spires of vivid blue flowers, Baptisia is a handsome and long-lived ornamental plant. ![]() In the Old World, ancient evidence of indigo usage includes dyed Egyptian mummy bandages from circa 2400 BCE, as well as recovered seeds and indigo-dyed cloth from the Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization, which lasted from about 3300 to 1300 BCE. ![]() Humanity’s use of indigo dye goes way back: archaeologists have discovered indigo-dyed fabrics in Peru from six millennia ago! I’ll try and keep the recap relatively bite-sized. Like that of tobacco and cotton, the history of indigo dye is vast and fascinating, and you could easily write a whole book on the subject. The former is native to Asia, the latter originates in Central and South America, and both left their mark on history as highly-valued crops. Color Spires® ‘Azure Snow’ (left) and ‘Crystal Blue’ (right) Salvia (Perennial Salvia) If you battle deer or rabbits in your garden but want to grow flowers that feed pollinators, plant salvia. ![]()
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