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Indigofera heterantha

Himalayan Indigo

Family FabaceaeGenus Indigofera

Also published as Indigofera heteranthera. You are in the right place.

Short spikes of pink pea flowers among pinnate leaves
FlowerSten PorseCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
shrub or treePlants of the World Online
Height
4-7 ft1.2-2.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
4-7 ft1.2-2.1 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, Purple/LavenderExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Fall, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Assam, East Himalaya, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
6-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good DrainageExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Himalayan indigo belongs to the same genus as the plants used for indigo dye. It is drought-tolerant and hardy to −15 °C, though in colder areas it dies back to the ground each winter and regrows. Wikipedia: Indigofera heterantha

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Nick or sand the seed coat

    A hole ground through the seed coat.

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 2 days to germinate.

100% germination in 2 days.

Grind a hole through the seed coat and it is 100% either way.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, IndigoferaPublic domain
Show the original text
Indigofera (Fabiaceae). I. heteranthera germ. 100% on the 2nd d at 70 and 100% in 5-8w at 40 providing a hole is ground through the seed coat. Without this hole germination is 9/15 in 4th w. when sown at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Indigofera. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Nick or sand the seed coat

    A hole ground through the seed coat.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    100% germinated at 40 itself, in 5-8 weeks.

Germination happens during step 2, in 56 days.

100% germination in 35–56 days.

Same result as at 70, weeks slower.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, IndigoferaPublic domain
Show the original text
Indigofera (Fabiaceae). I. heteranthera germ. 100% on the 2nd d at 70 and 100% in 5-8w at 40 providing a hole is ground through the seed coat. Without this hole germination is 9/15 in 4th w. when sown at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Indigofera. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

60% germination in 28 days.

Without the hole: three fifths of the seed, and a fortnight later.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, IndigoferaPublic domain
Show the original text
Indigofera (Fabiaceae). I. heteranthera germ. 100% on the 2nd d at 70 and 100% in 5-8w at 40 providing a hole is ground through the seed coat. Without this hole germination is 9/15 in 4th w. when sown at 70.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Indigofera. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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