Indigofera hendecaphylla, the creeping indigo or trailing indigo, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to the Old World Tropics and Subtropics, and has been introduced to various locales, including Japan and Australia. It was widely introduced as a forage plant when it was thought to be conspecific with Indigofera spicata, and then shown to be toxic to nearly all livestock, with some uncertainty as to which species was tested.
Trailing indigo has good resistance to disease and is generally not susceptible to illnesses. However, it can be affected by pests and diseases present in its surroundings. These problems are typically not serious. Regarding care, this plant needs a moderate amount of maintenance. It should be pruned regularly to keep a neat appearance and healthy growth. Fertilizing can also help encourage flowering. Trailing indigo is suitable for anyone with outdoor space, such as a garden or patio, and does not demand much prior care experience. It may need more attention when grown indoors.
How to keep Indigofera Hendecaphylla.
Light
Trailing indigo comes from bright, open habitats and performs best in full sun. It can tolerate partial shade but prefers direct sunlight for optimal growth. This plant, which can be annual or biennial, is recognized for its sun-loving nature.
Temperature
Trailing indigo comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. Consequently, it is well suited to high temperatures and moisture. It does not tolerate abrupt temperature shifts and favors a consistent thermal environment, so avoiding indoor temperature swings is important. It is generally intolerant of cold and needs warmer conditions to grow. If the surrounding temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.
Fertilizer
Once Trailing indigo has opened most of its flowers to full size, resume fertilizing. Begin feeding every three to four weeks at the height of bloom, as weather allows. Then, when Trailing indigo begins producing fewer new flowers, cease fertilizing; there's no reason to feed the plant when it can no longer produce additional blooms.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Herb
- Life Cycle
- Annual, Perennial
- Genus
- Indigofera
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 9-11
- Mature Height
- 30 cm to 61 cm
- Mature Spread
- 49 cm to 91 cm
- Leaf Color
- Green, Dark Green
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Size
- 0.51 cm to 0.76 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Summer, Early fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Mid summer, Late summer, Fall
- Native Area
- Sri Lanka, Djibouti, India, Malaysia, Angola, Madagascar, Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, Niger, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Brunei, Benin, Indonesia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Liberia, Mozambique, Burundi, Ghana, Ethiopia, Congo, Central African Republic, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Sudan, Philippines, Laos, Bangladesh, Guinea, Chad, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Japan, Togo, Senegal, Eswatini, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo (DRC), Thailand, Gabon
Other names.
