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Scientific Name
Indigofera australis
Family Name
FABACEAE (LEGUMINOSAE)
Common Name
Native or Hill Indigo
Status
Height
0.5m -1.5m (50-150cm)
Flowers
Clusters of small pink-lilac pea flowers, occasionally white.
Fruit
Seed pods
Form
Erect undershrub or shrub
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Brighton; Burnie; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Clarence; Derwent Valley; Devonport; Dorset; Flinders Island; Georgetown; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; Kingborough; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Southern Midlands; Tasman; West Tamar
Communities
Dry Eucalypt Forest and Woodland; Heath
Habitat Notes
Widespread and locally abundant. In sandy heaths and on hillsides in areas of light or moderate rainfall. Tolerates moderately heavy frosts and extended wet periods. Adapts to most acidic soils that are well-drained. Hardiness depends on provenance.
Site Tolerance
Dry; Moist; Shady
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
Soil Tolerance
Fertile; Loam; Poor; Sandy; Well-drained
General Notes
Useful for providing low-level shelter (up to 2m) in windbreaks. Flowers provide food (pollen and nectar) for many native insects, including bees and wasps. The foliage is very palatable to sheep and wallabies, although it is reputedly toxic when flowering. Koori (mainland) uses; The roots were hammered and placed in fresh or salt water to poison fish. Suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Pod, narrow brown with 5-10 seeds.seeds are grey-brown at maturity. seed shed soon after maturity
Seed Treatment Method
Hot water
Seed Storage Life
Viable Seeds Per Gram
Seed Treatment Notes
Hot water or scarification.
Germination Time
10-30 days
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Yes
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Cutting Notes
Grows readily from cuttings.
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-12-12
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith