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Indigo

Flower type: Annual (Stores water in the thickened base of its stem)

This modest-sized flower grows up to 10 inches (25 cm) tall. Its gray-green stems grow in bunches of 6 and are wispy with a curved tip, and the tiny, green leaves are fan-like with rounded edges. A pair of leaves grow at the base of the stem.

Each stem splits 3 to 8 times; a single small flower grows at the end of each split. The flowers are 22 cm (8.7 inches) wide, with petals that are either indigo or purple, with a yellow center. The flower head is shaped like a heart made up of several tightly layered, narrow petals. They are very delicate.

It has an intensely strong scent that smells like fresh linen, and it has copious amounts of pollen; it does not cause any allergic reactions. It is pollinated by the wind, but is also visited by one species of insect in particular.

It makes a distinctive sound when the wind blows through it.
It is possible to grow it from cuttings.
It is suitable for creating tough, hard-wearing textiles