<previous next>

Indigobell

Shrub type: Deciduous (Stores water in its stem)

This average-sized shrub grows up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and lives for around 43 years. It is very resistant to destructive insect infestation but susceptible to disease.

It has numerous knobbly, crooked stems covered in very thick, cracked, gray bark, and the wood inside is yellow.

The branches trail down to the ground with thousands of twigs that and are covered with copious amounts of tiny, finger-like, leaves with jagged edges. The leaves themselves are cream with indigo tips, flimsy and smooth.

In early spring it produces hundreds of medium-sized, pastel green blossoms with many layers of petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are very delicate and have a powerful scent that smells like varnish.

In early winter tiny asymmetrical fruits ripen. The sticky aquamarine skin is peel-able and inedible, and the slightly crunchy crimson flesh is sweet and very dry. The yellow seeds are small and are scattered throughout the fruit.

It can survive a very long time without water.
It commonly grows in large patches.
It is suitable for creating strong, durable textiles
It is very rare outside of a particular area.