Amongst a sea of green the Indigofera australis teal foliage will provide a point of difference, with its Spring time foliage providing a real pink punch! A native, hardy shrub indigenous to much of the Australian continent, this gem will be popular with wildlife and you!
Where to buy a Indigofera australis – Austral indigo in Australia?
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Planting
The versatile habitats of Australian indigo make it an ideal plant for any location in Australia. Great as an understory shrub or in mass planting, Austral indigo can give a pink contrast to your beautiful green garden. The slender, adaptable stem of Indigofera australis can develop lovely prostrate growth or even flows down a wall or slope to fit its surroundings.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Lighting & Position
Growing in the wild as an understory shrub, Indigofera australis love indirect yet bright spots. However, they can also endure direct sunlight. For a colorful appearance and a wonderful location, plant your Austral indigo as a sub canopy under larger trees. Indigofera australis is a hardy plant that can withstand mild frost and tolerates drought once established.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Soil and Fertiliser
Austral indigo is naturally found from deserts to rainforests and is tolerant to a wide variety of well draining soil types, including clay, sand, loam and even poor soils.
Austral indigo expects a lime free soil and fertiliser. We recommend using our Plant food available here.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Watering
Australian indigo appreciates moderate watering and once established can bear, extended dry periods. With more regular watering they’ll shows off with a denser appearance.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Propagation
Indigofera australis produce plenty of seeds and seed propagation is the easiest method to setup a new batch of plants. The germination process can be sped up with just a little pre-treatment like soaking the seeds in warm water overnight. The Austral indigo seedlings arise in a week and once hardened they can be planted straight into the ground.
Stem cuttings of Austral indigo with 2-3 pair of leaves can also be used as propagating material. Place the cutting in potting mix and mist regularly and root growth can appear as quickly as one week.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Pruning and Maintenance
Austral indigo appreciates heavy pruning to form a denser and more attractive shape. Prune during late Spring or early Summer once your Austral indigo has finished flowering. The flexible stem of Indigofera australis naturally forms an open growth and thus, taking off about ½ to 2⁄3 of the plant’s height will help it form a denser, more sturdy appearance. Avoid pruning into old wood as it will take time to heal and may lead to local infection.
Indigofera australis – Austral indigo Toxicity
Indigofera australis is mildly toxic, whereby excessive grazing by cows can lead to poisoning. Most of the Indigo species including Austral indigo contain small quantities of cyanides.
Otherwise the plant is a rich source of nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies.
Indigofera australis – Austral indigo Design Tips
The open and wide growing habit of Austral indigo should be given more space to encourage full bloom. Try planting them in an open spaces and under larger trees to get a color contrast for your garden. The thick and twining branches of Indigofera australis can be an option as natural fencing, where you get pink blooms during Spring.
Want a Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo?
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Introduction
The Indigofera australis is a popular, easy care, native shrub, famous for its distinctive pink pea flowers and teal foliage. It is widely distributed around Australia from the open forests and woodlands of Western Australia to the north-east of Queensland. Indigofera australis has multiple names such as Australian indigo or Austral indigo. The term ‘Indigofera’ refers to the indigo dye extracted from the leaves and stem of some Indigofera species.
Australian indigo has an upright, flexible stem, growing to a height of around 2 meter and adapts with a variable posture and shape. The messy habit of Indigofera australis may contain very few stems in the wild, but when nurtured and pruned in gardens it can grow rather bushy and is a popular choice as a fence-line shrub. The dark teal oval shaped leaves are pinnately compound (arranged symmetrically) with striking pink flowers arising from the leaf axils that form in clusters. The flowers of Austral indigo are shaped in the structure of a butterfly with large wing petals, giving one the impression of “a huge bunch of pink butterflies puddling on a low bush.” Indigofera australis will be in full flower in the Spring and is eager to greet all of the local fauna.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Planting
The versatile habitats of Australian indigo make it an ideal plant for any location in Australia. Great as an understory shrub or in mass planting, Austral indigo can give a pink contrast to your beautiful green garden. The slender, adaptable stem of Indigofera australis can develop lovely prostrate growth or even flows down a wall or slope to fit its surroundings.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Lighting & Position
Growing in the wild as an understory shrub, Indigofera australis love indirect yet bright spots. However, they can also endure direct sunlight. For a colorful appearance and a wonderful location, plant your Austral indigo as a sub canopy under larger trees. Indigofera australis is a hardy plant that can withstand mild frost and tolerates drought once established.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Soil and Fertiliser
Austral indigo is naturally found from deserts to rainforests and is tolerant to a wide variety of well draining soil types, including clay, sand, loam and even poor soils.
Austral indigo expects a lime free soil and fertiliser. We recommend using our Plant food available here.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Watering
Australian indigo appreciates moderate watering and once established can bear, extended dry periods. With more regular watering they’ll shows off with a denser appearance.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Propagation
Indigofera australis produce plenty of seeds and seed propagation is the easiest method to setup a new batch of plants. The germination process can be sped up with just a little pre-treatment like soaking the seeds in warm water overnight. The Austral indigo seedlings arise in a week and once hardened they can be planted straight into the ground.
Stem cuttings of Austral indigo with 2-3 pair of leaves can also be used as propagating material. Place the cutting in potting mix and mist regularly and root growth can appear as quickly as one week.
Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo Pruning and Maintenance
Austral indigo appreciates heavy pruning to form a denser and more attractive shape. Prune during late Spring or early Summer once your Austral indigo has finished flowering. The flexible stem of Indigofera australis naturally forms an open growth and thus, taking off about ½ to 2⁄3 of the plant’s height will help it form a denser, more sturdy appearance. Avoid pruning into old wood as it will take time to heal and may lead to local infection.
Indigofera australis – Austral indigo Toxicity
Indigofera australis is mildly toxic, whereby excessive grazing by cows can lead to poisoning. Most of the Indigo species including Austral indigo contain small quantities of cyanides.
Otherwise the plant is a rich source of nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies.
Indigofera australis – Austral indigo Design Tips
The open and wide growing habit of Austral indigo should be given more space to encourage full bloom. Try planting them in an open spaces and under larger trees to get a color contrast for your garden. The thick and twining branches of Indigofera australis can be an option as natural fencing, where you get pink blooms during Spring.
Want a Indigofera Australis – Austral Indigo?
