Pollinator plant

Himalayan indigo

Indigofera heterantha

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Common names

11 names · 9 languages
EnglishYour language
Other languages (8)
Dutch
  • Indigostruik
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 异花木蓝[4]
Czech
Finnish
  • himalajanindigo[4]
Japanese
  • コダチノニワフジ[4]
Russian
  • Индигофера разноцветковая[4]
Slovak
  • indigovník rôznokvetý[4]
Swedish
  • rosenindigo[4]
Sources & name notes (4)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Indigofera heterantha — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Himalayan Indigo — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Indigofera heterantha.
[2] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • Himalayan indigo — Common-name subtitle below main botanical heading (h1).; Indigofera heterantha.
[3] Indigofera heterantha — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Edgeworth — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • Yern — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
[4] Indigofera heterantha — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Edgeworth — results[6].names[4]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • Yern — results[6].names[5]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • modřil — results[6].names[1]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • コダチノニワフジ — results[6].names[2]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • rosenindigo — results[6].names[3]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • Индигофера разноцветковая — results[6].names[6]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • himalajanindigo — results[6].names[7]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • indigovník rôznokvetý — results[6].names[8]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
  • 异花木蓝 — results[6].names[9]; taxon id 402777; Indigofera heterantha.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Indigofera heterantha is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Fabaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
1.22–2.13 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
1.22–2.13 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Erect; Open

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Native range
Afghanistan to Tibet and N. Myanmar.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Himalayan indigo (Indigofera heterantha) is a shrub. It flowers from June to September.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Indigofera heterantha — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): Fabaceae. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 5297095; ID VLRJR; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 5297095; ID VLRJR; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Indigofera heterantha — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Indigofera heterantha — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1415917; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 1453728, 1453729, 1453730, 1453731, 1453732, 1453733, 1453734, 1453735

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.