Indigofera is a large genus of over 750 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Fabaceae. They are widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Species of Indigofera are mostly shrubs, though some are small trees or annual or perennial herbs. Most have pinnate leaves. Racemes of flowers grow in the leaf axils. Most species have flowers in shades of red, but there are a few white- and yellow-flowered species. The fruit is a legume pod of varying size and shape.

Indigofera filifolia is a South African endemic species from the Western Cape Province where it can be found growing in damp areas and commonly along watercourses from Cape Peninsula to George. It grows into a 2 meter tall shrub with a few pinnate leaves and long leafless stems with rose to purple pea-like flowers from summer to autumn.