The Himalayan indigo shrub fascinates with its long-lasting pink flowers and feathery foliage. Cultivation and care can be found here.
A feast for the eyes are without a doubt flowering shrubs from the legume and legume family. Some representatives of this species are well known, such as gold and wisteria or acacia. The bright flowering of these trees is usually limited to spring. But one relative of this plant family is particularly striking: the indigo bush (Indigofera heterantha). Gardeners admire this shrub for its long flowering season, which lasts from June to September.
The tree is better known in tree nurseries as the Himalayan indigo bush or false indigo. On the one hand, these names refer to the origin of the shrub, the Himalayas, and on the other hand to the fact that this legume family is not a dye plant like its relative Indigo tinctoria.
In contrast to the wisteria, the shrub with its pink and perennial flowers is also suitable for the small garden, as it can be cut back to any size.
Distinctive features of the indigo bush
The summer-blooming, loose shrub grows up to 150 centimeters high and can even reach 2 meters in particularly mild locations. Its pink flowers unfold as 5 to 10 centimeters long and overhanging racemes. The conspicuously pinnate leaves, which have up to 21 leaflets, look dainty.
A deep, slightly branched root gives the indigo bush a firm footing in the ground.
Planting an indigo bush - That's what matters
❍ Location:
The flowering shrub thanks you for optimal growth in a sunny and sheltered location in mild climates. It is best to place it in front of a warm house wall.
The Himalayan indigo bush is only conditionally hardy. It is therefore advisable to cultivate the plant in a large tub in areas with a harsh climate, which is given an exposed place on a sunny terrace.
❍ Bottom:
Regardless of whether the indigo bush is planted outdoors or in a bucket, the soil should be permeable to water. The flowering shrub does not tolerate waterlogging at all.If in doubt, mix in sand or gravel outdoors, for pot planting use expanded clay for the substrate. Otherwise, the soil should be moderately dry to slightly moist.
❍ Planting time:
The ideal time for planting the summer flowering shrub is in spring. This has the following advantages: you can enjoy the bright flowers throughout the summer and it can root well until autumn.
You can also plant the indigo shrub as a container plant all year round, just not during frost.
Planting Instructions:
- Dig a planting hole twice the size and depth of the root ball.
- Now carefully loosen up the bale and place it in the water so that it absorbs moisture properly.
- Then place it in the prepared hole and fill it up with the excavation.
- Finally, the earth is pressed down and the planting site is watered. However, so that the water does not run away on the surface, it is advisable to place a casting ring around the young plant.
» Planting tips for the tub:
- Choose a large bucket. It should be the same diameter at the bottom as at the top. This reduces the tipping of the planter.
In addition, there must be a hole in the bottom of the pot through which excess water can drain after watering. - Place a shard of pottery over the hole and fill in the bottom with a 2 cm layer of coarse gravel for drainage. Put a layer of the substrate on top, mixed with some expanded clay.
- Place the root ball in the bucket and check whether the planting depth is sufficient. Otherwise, balance them out with the soil mixture.
- Now carefully loosen the bale and place it in the water so that it absorbs moisture well.
- Then place the moist root ball in the bucket and fill it with the remaining substrate mixture.
- Don't forget to press the soil into the planter and water the indigo plant.
How to care for the indigo bush
Watering and fertilizing:
Water the shrub outdoors regularly to prevent the soil from drying out too much. But make sure that the plant is not too wet. For fertilizing, give your shrubs compost in March and late June.
Potted plants need more water. Allow the substrate in the pot to dry slightly on the surface and then water. The soil in the bucket must not dry out, nor should waterloggingaccumulate.
You can cover the nutrient requirements with a liquid fertilizer for potted plants (my recommendation: COMPO balcony and potted plant fertilizer).
Pruning:
The lepidoptera is cut in the spring before new growth. You can shorten the shrub by about a third. You should not come across the bush with the scissors later, as the flowers generally develop on the new shoots.
The Indogo bush is pruned radically, except for a few buds above the ground, when the frost has killed most of the shoots in winter.
Hiberation:
How you overwinter the flowering shrub depends on whether it was cultivated in a container or outdoors. It is best to overwinter the indigo bush in the bucket frost-free in a cool room. It doesn't matter whether it's in the light or the dark, because it will drop its leaves anyway.
The shrubs planted outdoors tolerate temperatures down to -15°Celsius for a short time. Better to be on the safe side and protect your plant by thickly covering the rootstock with leaves and needles. If the shoots freeze and the rootstock survive, the indigo bush will sprout again in spring.
Cover the crown of the bush as well. This protects it against frost on the one hand and the evil power of the winter sun on the other.
» By the way: The Indigofera heterantha is extremely rarely attacked by diseases and pests.
Summary
The indigo shrub (Indigofera heterantha) is one of the conspicuous shrubs of the papilionaceous family. The shrub blooms pink for a long time. It likes sunny, sheltered locations in mild climates. In harsh areas with harsh winters, pot planting is favoured. The soil should be permeable. The shrub is watered regularly.
Winter protection is advisable for pot planting and for planting outdoors.