Indigofera tinctoria, often called true indigo or simply just indigo, is probably the most famous and widespread dye plant in the world. In cultivation for millennia, it has fallen somewhat out of favor recently due to the invention of synthetic dyes. It’s still a wonderfully useful plant, however, and very much worth growing for the adventurous gardener and home dyer. Keep reading to learn more about growing indigo plants in your garden.
What is True Indigo?
Indigofera is a
genus of over 750 species of plants, many of which go by the common name
“indigo.” It’s Indigofera tinctoria,
however, that gives indigo color, so named for the deep blue dye it produces,
which has been used for thousands of years.
The plant is thought to be native to Asia or northern
Africa, but it’s difficult to be sure, since it’s been in cultivation since at
least 4,000 BCE, long before good gardening records were being kept. It has
since been naturalized the world over, including the American South, where it
was a very popular crop in Colonial times.
These days, tinctoria indigo isn’t grown nearly as extensively, as it has been overtaken by synthetic dyes. As with other indigo varieties, however, it’s still an interesting addition to the home garden.
How to Grow Indigo Plants
Indigo plant care is relatively simple. Tinctoria indigo is
hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11, where it grows as an evergreen. It prefers
fertile, well-drained soil, moderate moisture, and full sun, except in very hot
climates, where it appreciates some afternoon shade.
A medium shrub, the indigo plant will grow to 2 to 3 feet (61-91.5 cm.) in height and spread. In the summer, it produces attractive pink or purple flowers. It is actually the plant’s leaves that are used to make the blue dye, though they are naturally green and must go through an involved extraction process first.
Indigofera tinctoria, often called true indigo or simply just indigo, is probably the most famous and widespread dye plant in the world. In cultivation for millennia, it has fallen somewhat out of favor recently due to the invention of synthetic dyes. It’s still a wonderfully useful plant, however, and very much worth growing for the adventurous gardener and home dyer. Keep reading to learn more about growing indigo plants in your garden.
What is True Indigo?
Indigofera is a
genus of over 750 species of plants, many of which go by the common name
“indigo.” It’s Indigofera tinctoria,
however, that gives indigo color, so named for the deep blue dye it produces,
which has been used for thousands of years.
The plant is thought to be native to Asia or northern
Africa, but it’s difficult to be sure, since it’s been in cultivation since at
least 4,000 BCE, long before good gardening records were being kept. It has
since been naturalized the world over, including the American South, where it
was a very popular crop in Colonial times.
These days, tinctoria indigo isn’t grown nearly as extensively, as it has been overtaken by synthetic dyes. As with other indigo varieties, however, it’s still an interesting addition to the home garden.
How to Grow Indigo Plants
Indigo plant care is relatively simple. Tinctoria indigo is
hardy in USDA zones 10 and 11, where it grows as an evergreen. It prefers
fertile, well-drained soil, moderate moisture, and full sun, except in very hot
climates, where it appreciates some afternoon shade.
A medium shrub, the indigo plant will grow to 2 to 3 feet (61-91.5 cm.) in height and spread. In the summer, it produces attractive pink or purple flowers. It is actually the plant’s leaves that are used to make the blue dye, though they are naturally green and must go through an involved extraction process first.