Indigofera is one of those “once you notice it, you see it everywhere” genera – an immense, cosmopolitan group of legumes, placed in the Fabaceae family, found across the warmer parts of the world, from dry slopes and rocky ridges to grasslands, coastal systems, and woodland edges. Depending on the species, Indigofera can be a tiny, ground-hugging mat, a wiry perennial with delicate leaflets, or a tougher shrublet built for sun, wind, and poor soils.

For gardeners and collectors, the appeal is irresistible: finely pinnate foliage with an elegant, fern-like texture, and pea-flowers that arrive like little jewels – often in pinks, reds, rosy–magenta, purples, lilacs, or soft bicolours – either sprinkled along the stems or packed into lively racemes. The name itself hints at its heritage: “Indigofera” literally means “bearing indigo,” a nod to the famous dye history within the group.

Many Indigofera species are also classic “tough-love” plants – adaptable, sun-friendly, and well-suited to naturalistic planting, rock gardens, restoration-style beds, and biodiversity-focused spaces. And because they’re legumes, they’re often associated with beneficial root symbioses that help plants cope in lean soils – great news for low-input gardens and wild-style landscapes.

Indigofera alternans var. alternans (Indigofera effusa, Indigofera enneaphylla) – Skaap-Ertjie

A classic southern African Indigofera with a refined, species-true look, Indigofera alternans var. alternans is all about natural elegance: neat pinnate leaves, a lightly shrubby presence, and clusters of pea-flowers that read as bright, clean colour against earthy ground and grasses. It’s a fantastic option for growers who want wild authenticity without sacrificing flower impact.

This variety is indigenous to South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Northern Cape, North West and Western Cape provinces. It suits open, sunny sites where the planting can look “unstyled” in the best possible way – scattered stones, short grasses, and low companions that don’t steal the show. In group plantings it settles into a convincing colony that looks like it was always there.

If you’re building an Indigofera selection with real field character, this one deserves a place. Add it to your cart – Seeds and All offers combined South African and International shipping. Check out our online seed store and explore our massive range.