Indigofera tinctoria INDIGO (20 seeds)

True Indigo, also known Indigofera tinctoria in Latin, is a perennial plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. Native to India, it is a fast-growing plant that reaches a height of 60 to 120 cm. This plant quickly naturalized in the tropical and temperate regions of South America and Africa. In India, it has been cultivated for over four thousand years.

Its beautiful flowering consists of upright, compact clusters of rose-purple flowers. They bloom throughout the summer until the end of October.

The foliage is deciduous; each leaf is composed of several pinnate and alternate green leaflets.

Indigo seeds are brownish-yellow and small, measuring between 1 and 2 millimeters in diameter. They are found inside brown pods starting in November.

- Uses:

Formerly cultivated as a tinctorial (dye) plant, it is the natural source of the color indigo blue. To obtain the dye, the leaves are first soaked in water and then left to ferment. During this process, the glycoside indican is converted into indigotin, the coloring principle that produces the blue pigment.

The leaves and roots of this shrub are used in the traditional medicine of several countries. In China, it is used for its health benefits. In South Africa, its crushed root is used to treat numerous conditions.

- Germination and Sowing:

• The ideal period to sow Indigo is from the beginning of March, even when temperatures are still close to 5°C.
• Begin by stratifying the seeds naturally by leaving them outside during the winter period, or artificially by placing them in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 weeks.
• Sow in a tray of seedling potting soil, spacing them 2 cm apart.
• Cover them with only 1 millimeter of soil.
• Water gently by hand using a sprayer.
• Place the tray in a greenhouse at a temperature between 20°C and 30°C.
• Germination will begin 2 to 4 weeks after the stratification and sowing process.

- Soil Type / Substrate:

It is grown in a fresh substrate, rich in organic matter, and above all, well-drained. The soil must not be compacted. For pot cultivation, do not forget to add a few clay pebbles at the bottom of the container.

- Exposure / Light:

To ensure good growth, it is necessary to find a very bright location in full sun so that it can thrive and bloom abundantly.

- Temperature / Hardiness:

The shrub develops very well when temperatures are between 20°C and 30°C. Below this range, the plant grows much more slowly. It is only slightly hardy and will resist light frosts if protected during the winter. It can withstand temperatures down to -7°C. Its USDA hardiness zone is 8a.

- Watering / Irrigation:

It must be regularly irrigated at the base during planting and for the first three weeks following planting to ensure proper establishment. Once established, it does not require regular watering except in cases of heatwaves or exceptional drought.

- Multiplication / Reproduction:

The best way to reproduce it is by seed. It is also possible to multiply it by cuttings the following spring or during the autumn period using 15 cm long woody branches.

- Pests / Diseases:

It is very resistant to diseases and parasites; occasionally, a few aphids may appear on young stems in the spring.

- Maintenance:

Prune dead branches at the beginning of spring. Add a little fertilizer each year if the plant is grown in a pot.