Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
North America, United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada
North America, Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Types
Blue False Indigo
White False Indigo
Ilex glabra, Ilex crenata, Ilex verticillata
Number of Varieties
23
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Grassland, Warmer regions
Coastal Regions, Lowland, Mountains, Subtropical climates, Suburban areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-85-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
9-1
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm120.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Light Green
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water more in summer, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
No pruning needed in the early stages, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Shape and thin as needed
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Can be made into a herbal tea
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
AMORPHA canescens
ILEX glabra
Common Name
False Indigo
American Pokeweed, Inkberry, Silberstein American Pokeweed
In Hindi
इंडिगो
Inkberry
In German
falsches Indigo
Inkberry
In French
faux Indigo
Inkberry
In Spanish
Falso Indigo
Inkberry
In Greek
Λάθος Indigo
Inkberry
In Portuguese
false Indigo
Inkberry
In Polish
fałsz Indigo
inkberry
In Latin
falsum indicum
Inkberry
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
-
-
Order
Fabales
Aquifoliales
Family
Fabaceae
Phytolaccaceae
Genus
Amorpha
Ilex
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
21600
1
27800
👆🏻