Trailing Indigo (Indigofera spicata): Spreading Legume for Warm Climates

Trailing indigo is a prostrate, spreading perennial legume native to Africa and Asia, now naturalized in tropical regions worldwide. It forms a dense mat of fine foliage and bears small, pink, pea-like flowers.

Botanical Profile

• Family: Papilionaceae (or Fabaceae subfamily Faboideae)
• Genus: Indigofera
• Species: spicata

Features

Prostrate stems root at nodes, forming a mat 6–12 inches tall. Leaves are pinnate, 7–13 leaflets. Pink flowers in short spikes. Fixes nitrogen.

Culture

Full sun to part shade. Adaptable soils. Drought-tolerant. Tropical to subtropical (USDA zones 9–11). Can be aggressive.

Uses

Ground cover, erosion control, cover crop, forage. Nitrogen-fixing.