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Indigo

Shrub type: Deciduous (Sheds its leaves in winter)

This big shrub grows up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and lives for around 41 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has several long and flexible, slanted stems covered in silky, light gray bark, and the wood inside is pale yellow.

The branches are short stubs with thousands of twigs that and are covered with very large amounts of huge, very narrow and elongated, leaves with irregular edges. The leaves themselves are either aquamarine, or crimson with magenta dots, resilient and soft.

In early spring it produces handfuls of large, indigo blossoms with V-shaped shaped petals. They are sturdy and have a scent whose strength depends on external factors, such as soil quality and rain frequency that smells like honeysuckle.

In mid-autumn tiny oval fruits ripen. The smooth gold skin is peel-able and sour, and the slightly crunchy crimson flesh is savoury and sticky. The lime seeds are large and are located in the centre of the fruit.

Several parts of the bine have medicinal properties.
It is very resistant to fire damage.
It is suitable for creating tough, hard-wearing textiles