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 hispida is a South African endemic species from the Eastern Cape Province where it can be found growing from Uniondale to Port Elizabeth. It forms an erect shrub up to 3 meters tall. The stems are densely hairy or bristly. It has grey hairy pinnate leaves and from summer to autumn it bears masses of pink flowers in racemes.