White Bush Indigo Plant Care

White Bush Indigo (Indigastrum candidissimum) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Indigastrum genus. White Bush Indigo is native to Southeast Asia, Indonesia.

White Bush Indigo displays a tall, upright shrub growth habit, reaching up to 5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. White Bush Indigo produces clusters of small, fragrant white flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted White Bush Indigo every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

White Bush Indigo thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Indigastrum candidissimum tolerates temperatures of 60–80°F. White Bush Indigo prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for White Bush Indigo to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed White Bush Indigo every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

White Bush Indigo is suited to USDA Zone 13a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

White Bush Indigo can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 5 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune White Bush Indigo while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

White Bush Indigo is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 13). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

White Bush Indigo can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to silver bush plant care, which shares the same genus.

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White Bush Indigo is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

White Bush Indigo grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. White Bush Indigo is native to Southeast Asia, Indonesia. In cooler regions, grow White Bush Indigo as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.