General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Annual
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 12 - 18 inches
Plant Spread: 18 - 36 inches
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Pink
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Other: Year round in some situations.
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Groundcover
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Resistances: Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Seeds: Other info: Self seeds

Image
Common names
  • Creeping Indigo
  • Trailing indigo

Photo Gallery
Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2015-04-18
With Ceraunus Blue butterfly
Location: December, 2023
Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2015-04-18
Ceraunus Blue laying an egg.
Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2015-04-18
At Brooker Creek Headwaters Preserve
Comments:
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Feb 14, 2013 3:13 PM concerning plant:
    Creeping Indigo is a perennial, mat forming ground cover that does not exceed approximately 3 inches in height. It can be confused with it's relative Hairy Indigo (Indigofera hirsuta) but Creeping Indigo grows prostrate with stems trailing along the ground, taking root at each node where it touches the soil.

    Creeping Indigo has invaded disturbed areas as well as cultivated landscapes and open fields in the state of Florida and is considered a noxious weed. The plant has slender, 1/2 inch to 1 1/4 inch spikes with clusters of pink pea-like flowers borne at the ends of the stalks. In Central Florida, creeping Indigo may freeze during cold winters but will re-grow from it's very long tap root. This plant is highly toxic to horses and can be difficult to detect in pastures due to it's very low growing habit beneath the grass canopy. It has caused death to horses in parts of the state of Florida.

    Creeping Indigo, like other plants in the fabaceae (pea family) is a favorite host plant for the caterpillars of the diminutive Ceraunus Blue Butterfly.

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