Indigo

This short shrub grows up to 1 foot (30.5 cm) tall and lives for around 35 years. It is very resistant to disease but is susceptible to destructive insect infestation.

It has numerous long and flexible, curved stems covered in ridged, light brown bark, and the wood inside is pale brown.

The branches trail down to the ground with hundreds of twigs that and are covered with large amounts of giant, spear shaped, leaves with ripped edges. The leaves themselves are grey with amber tips, light and covered in fine hairs.

In early spring it produces large amounts of giant, indigo blossoms with wide petals with a trumpet-shaped floral cup. They are sturdy and have a scent that varies in strength that smells like skunk spray.

In late winter small circular fruits ripen. The hairy orange skin is tough and edible when roasted; it is sweet, and the very soft pastel orange flesh is sweet and powdery. The white seed is tiny and sits at the end of the fruit.