I have an indigo bush and I have looked on every source on the internet to find out about propagation for these. I have seen pics of false indigo but mine does not look like them. I wish I could post a pic but I don't have a functioning camera. I examined them and it seems as if they have parts to fly off and seed. I've thought about planting some of them and seeing what happens. Does any one know about these? I would love to learn more about them.
Thanks, Lori
Indigo bush help
Does yours look like this?
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Fabaceae/Dalea_greggii.html
That's the one. Only mine is alot smaller. Thanks, Lori
Lorilea, the book I have says that Dalea greggii is easiest to propagate by cuttings.
Take cuttings in summer or early fall from wood of the current season's growth. The cuttings should be 3 to 4 inches long and slightly woody toward the base.
Treat with hormone and put under mist, or mist from a bottle twice a day.
Rooting takes place in 4 to 5 weeks.
Josephine.
Thank you Josephine, I will surely try this. Maybe I will have some to take to the RU next year. I doubt they will be ready by this one. It is such a pretty bush. My cat ate my lemon basil, I was going to bring them to the RU but now all I have is a few seeds. grrrrrrrrr. Guess maybe I need to get him some catnip so he can eat that instead. I am so anxious to meet all of you at the RU.
A few comments on propagation of the dalea greggii at the Lady Bird Johnson wildflower center .
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=dagr2
http://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=2100
Another that is commonly refered to as Indigo bush is dalea pulchra
Lorilea ,
I wanted to add more to the post yesterday but did not have time . Dalea 's are among my favorites here . You asked for information on Indigo bush . Most places I see refer to dalea greggii as trailing indigo bush , here at Daves garden also ;
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/65620/
A nice more of a ground cover , some information I have here give somewhat different dimensions for it , as much as 2' x 6' .
I just started some of that here this spring , it's small yet but I am looking forward to it spreading more
Dalea pulchra is what I've more commonly heard called indigo bush ;
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/98585/
One I have here ;
A good source that I have found on the internet for a lot of xeric and southwestern plants is a wholesale grower that is not too far from me . They also sell to nurseries in Texas , One can access thier web site at ;
http://www.mswn.com/
Once one gets past the home page to the index page ;
http://www.mswn.com/index2.htm
Start exploring the buttons on the left , plant info and plant info sheets . You will find some 6 to 7 varieties of daleas there . Black dalea - dalea frutecens is said to be a good quail attractor . What I like about daleas is that they provide nice winter color , I have gotten most of the varieties as some bloom earlier , some later so as to stagger thier blooming seasons . So found I have found that they require little in the way of care .
My black dalea ;
Dalea versicolor ;
Dalea bicolor " monterrey blue "
Thank You Lonediver, this is great info. I really enjoy mine and with the info, maybe I will be able to share.
Hope you find the info useful . I have found the MSWN site to be very informative , I have spent many hours there . If you check through the site you will find listings of which nurseries in Texas buy from them . There is also the availability lists of what they currently have in production . If your local dealer nursery does not have it in stock , it could be ordered through them . It gives you knowledge of what is available to them (your local nurseries ) .