Species Chinese indigo Guide
small purple flowers clustered in elongated, upright spikes with brown stem

Chinese indigo

Indigofera decora

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Layering Propagation,Division

Hardiness Zone:

5 - 8

Flowers:

Pink Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,indigo

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Chinese indigo should be watered when the soil begins to dry out, usually every 7-10 days. The amount of water depends on the pot size and soil type. For smaller pots, about 1 cup of water is sufficient. For larger pots, water until the soil is moist. Make sure not to overwater; the soil should never be soaking wet.

sunlight

Chinese indigo (Indigofera decora) thrives best with full sun, meaning 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. The plant also benefits from a little afternoon shade, making it a good choice for areas that experience hot summers. When growing Chinese indigo, look for a location that has well-draining soil and receives at least 5 hours of full sun. In light of this, avoid planting in heavily shaded areas or areas that are at risk of getting too much direct sunlight due to the scorching temperatures.

pruning

Chinese indigo (Indigofera decora) should be pruned during its dormant season, usually late winter or early spring. Heavy pruning should generally be limited to once a season and limited to removing branches that are dead, diseased or damaged, as well as branches that are crisscrossing or rubbing against 1 another. For any other pruning, it is advised to selectively prune only a few branches at a time. Cutting back branches that are overly long or have grown out of the desired shape can be done with 1-third of the branch being removed at a time. This will help reduce potential shock to the plant.