![]() In the meantime, prepare some small pots or seed trays by filling them with a good quality seed-raising mix. Start by soaking the seeds in water of room temperature for between 24 hours. Germination Instructions HOW TO GROW INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA (True Indigo) The later described it as “a corrosive substance, and food fit only for the devil”. ![]() Under England’s reign of Queen Elizabeth and the Saxony by the Elector, True Indigo was prohibited. By 1914, 96% of the world’s Indigo dye was produced synthetically. That was before commercial synthetic indigo replaced natural dyes in 1897. However, humans have spread the seeds and plant for over 6000 years so any suggestion of a native region is guesswork.įrom the 1700s, Indigo became a prominent cash crop in the southern states of the USA. Some suggest that the Malaysian Peninsula is the original source. The native location of True Indigo has never been entirely clear. To obtain the dye, the plants leaves are soaked in water and then fermented to convert the indican into the blue dye indigotin. Throughout the Middle Ages, Indigo was popular in Europe as a dye used for easel painting. The explorer Marco Polo of the thirteenth century was the first European to write about the Indigo from India. WATER REQUIREMENTS:Ĭold Storage at 4☌ (Fridge) up to 3 years.įACTS ABOUT INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA (True Indigo) Temperate, Dry, Sub-Tropical and Tropical. Even so, it is commonly grown as an annual in crop rotations to help improve the soil while providing forage for livestock. In colder climates that regularly dip below 10☌ / 50☏, True Indigo dies off and is considered an annual. In warmer climates, the plant is a perennial and lives for between 2-4 years. And as an additional bonus, their attractive pink or purple flowers bring lots of beneficial insects into the garden.įruits follow soon after with small, thin pods that contain up to 10 seeds each that have matured once the pod becomes a reddish-brown. Pinnate shaped leaves stretch 50mm long and are the source of the blue dye that was highly sought after up until the early 20th century.Īs part of the legume family, it helps nearby plants in the garden by increasing the nitrogen levels in the soil and atmosphere. It grows in poor soils and prefers warm temperate or humid conditions. True Indigo has an upright growth habit and light green leaves. Indigofera tinctoria is an evergreen flowering native that reaches heights of up to 2 metres (7 feet). Suitable for Cold, Temperate, Dry, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical and Tropical climates.įor a native variety, check out our page on the Australian Indigo. Like most plants in the Pea family, they also help by improving the soil for other plants nearby. The plant is easy to grow, don’t need much water and attracts bees into the garden. True Indigo has evergreen leaves and produces beautiful pink/purple flowers during Spring. Indigofera tinctoria (True Indigo) is a small flowering shrub that is the original source of purple dye.
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