Indigofera australis (Australian Indigo) is a small shrub that is native to every state and territory in Australia. Australian Indigo has evergreen leaves and produces beautiful pink/purple flowers during Spring. They are also easy to germinate, don’t need much water and can be grown in almost any climate. Another added bonus is that they help improve the soil for other plants nearby.
Suitable for Cold, Temperate, Dry, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical and Tropical climates.
Among harsh conditions in the wild Australian Indigo is often straggly but when kept tidy becomes an attractive plant with beautiful blue-green foliage and dark purplish stems.
Heavily foraged by livestock animals during drought or dry seasons which is fine in moderate quantities. There have been reports of cattle becoming ill from eating the plants which contain a small amounts of cyanide.
After a bushfire, Australian Indigo is one of the first plants to regenerate through rhizomes that grow beneath the soil.
For the original source of Purple Dye, check out our page on True Indigo.
Growth
Indigofera australis is an evergreen flowering native that reaches heights of up to 2 metres (7 feet). Australian Indigo has an upright growth habit and striking all-year, blue-green leaves. It grows in poor soils in almost any climate. It succeeds in the colder temperatures of Hobart, the moist, tropical conditions in Cooktown and in drier regions such as the deserts of Western Australia.
Pinnate shaped leaves stretch 50-100mm long and contains up to 21 egg-shaped, slightly hairy leaflets.
As part of the legume family, it helps nearby plants in the garden by increasing the nitrogen levels in the soil. And as an additional bonus, their attractive pink or purple flowers bring lots of beneficial insects into the garden. Bees and wasps in particularly enjoy their sweet pollen. These flowers occur from early to late Spring as long as the air remains cool.
Fruits follow soon after with small, thin pods that contain up to 10 seeds each that have matured once the pod becomes a reddish-brown.
FAMILY:
Fabaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold, Temperate, Dry, Sub-Tropical and Tropical.
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-5°C to 40°C / 23 to 104°F
SOIL TYPE:
Most soil types are ok.
LOCATION:
Full Sun
HEIGHT:
Up to 2 metres (7 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 3 metres (9 feet)
pH:
6.0-7.5
GROWTH TYPE:
Evergreen
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Low
POLLINATION:
Pollinated by bees and wasps.
MATURITY:
12 months – 3 years
GERMINATION RATES:
75-85%
GERMINATION TIME:
2-4 weeks
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 150
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
No.
WEED POTENTIAL:
No.
EDIBLE:
No
SEED STORAGE & VIABILITY:
Cold Storage at 4°C (Fridge) up to 5 years.
FACTS ABOUT INDIGOFERA AUSTRALIS (Australian Indigo)
Aborigines used the crushed leaves to stun fish by placing them into the water.
The leaves and stems produce a yellow-fawn dye when combined with alum.
