Indigofera heterantha

Indigofera heterantha, also known as Indigofera gerardiana, is a small deciduous bush with a flexible habit and light, grey-green foliage. It is appreciated for its beautiful and abundant summer flowering in clusters of bright purplish-pink flowers. It is an undemanding plant, well adapted to poor soils and dry summers, easy to grow in full sun in well-drained soil. It will work wonders in a shrub border, or in a flowering hedge.

Indigofera heterantha belongs to the Fabaceae family, and is a cousin of alfalfa and tree clover (Lespedeza thunbergii). It is native to the Himalayas and Afghanistan. Its branches emerge from the stump quite late in spring, and dry out in autumn. It develops into a tuft of flexible and thin branches, which give the plant a bushy habit. With rapid growth, it easily reaches 1.5m (5ft) in all directions, sometimes up to 2m (7ft) in height depending on growing conditions. Its leaves are arranged alternately on the branches, measuring 6 to 10cm (3 to 4 in) in length, and are divided into 13 to 21 small grey-green leaflets. Flowering extends from late June to September. A profusion of compact clusters appears, formed of small dark pink flowers 1 to 2cm (1in) in diameter. Hardy down to -12 to -15°C (10.4 to 5°F), this small bush regenerates from the stump after a cold winter. However, it cannot tolerate wet soils in winter.

Plant in a south-facing, well-sheltered location, protected from cold winds. It will work wonders in very sunny borders or to dress a south-facing wall. Plant some spring bulbs at its base to create a beautiful decorative effect at the beginning of the season. You can plant it with large, easy-going asters (Aster turbinellus or laevis) or even blue shrubby sages, for example.