Common Name:

General Information

Indigofera hebepetala is a deciduous shrub growing 1 - 3 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. A handsome plant, but surprisingly little grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Himalayan regions of southern China (southern Xizang), Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan

Habitat

Shady places, at elevations from 2,100 - 3,000 metres in Jaunsar, Uttar Pradesh[]. Open places; at elevations from 1,600 - 2,800 metres in Nepal[]. Evergreen forests, slopes in scrub; at elevations from 1,700 - 2,900 metres in southern Xizang[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Indigofera hebepetala is somewhat cold-hardy, the rootstock tolerating temperatures down to around -10°c when dormant[]. The top-growth is not so hardy however, the stems are often cut back to the ground by cold weather, though new shoots are generally produced from the rootstock in spring and these can flower in late summer of the same year[].
Requires a light or medium well-drained soil and a sunny position[, ]. Succeeds on chalk[].
The plant flowers on the current season's growth, so will usually flower in the summer even if it was cut back by winter cold[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

The flowers and tender fruits (probably the immature seed pods[]) are cooked as a vegetable or are pickled[].
The cylindrical seedpod is around 25 - 55mm long, containing 8 - 10 seeds about 2mm x 1.5mm[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The twigs are used for basket-work and twig bridges[].

The heartwood is black with a white sapwood. The wood is generally hard. Although of small dimensions, the wood is occasionally used in India[].
The wood is used as a fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.. Sow late winter in a warm greenhouse. The germination can be variable. Prick out the seedlings when large enough to handle and overwinter the young plants in a greenhouse for the first winter, planting out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel if possible, mid summer in individual pots in a frame. Good percentage[]. Overwinter the young plants in a greenhouse for the first winter and plant out in late spring or early summer[].
Root cuttings 3cm long in December. Good percentage[].
Suckers. Remove them in the dormant season, preferably towards the end of winter, and plant out into their permanent positions.