Intermediate
skill rating
Online Garden Tools
Useful videos
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. apollinea (Purple tephrosia)
1 hour care
per year
per year
0.5m
Max height
Max height
0.7m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. apollinea
Other names
Tephrosia apollinea, Purple tephrosia, Galega apollinea, Sakhal, Wild indigo, Auhuhu
Genus
Tephrosia Tephrosia
Species
T. purpurea subsp. apollinea - T. purpurea subsp. apollinea is a variable, half-hardy, erect or spreading annual, short-lived, evergreen perennial, or subshrub with pinnate leaves divided into obovate to oblong, silky-hairy, grey-green leaves and, from midwinter to late spring, racemes of pea-like purple to purple-pink flowers followed by flattened, green seed pods ripening pale brown.
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. apollinea is: Evergreen
Habit
Erect, Spreading
Toxicity
Leaves and roots are used in traditional, herbal medicine. Used for indigo dye. Toxic to fish, insects, and goats. Human ingestion may cause vomiting. Large doses can be fatal.
Flower
Purple-pink, Purple in Spring; Purple, Purple-pink in Winter
Foliage
Grey-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free.
Diseases
Generally disease free.
General care
Pruning
Little to no pruning required. Deadhead if desired.
Propagation methods
Seed
Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions
Where to grow
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. apollinea (Purple tephrosia) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.7m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Containers, Desert garden/Xeriscaping, Drought Tolerant, Mediterranean, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Outdoors in mild, frost-free climates, grow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained, rocky or stony soil in full sun. Drought and saline tolerant once established. May bloom throughout the year. Fixes nitrogen in the soil.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. apollinea
Other names
Tephrosia apollinea, Purple tephrosia, Galega apollinea, Sakhal, Wild indigo, Auhuhu
Genus
Tephrosia Tephrosia
Species
T. purpurea subsp. apollinea - T. purpurea subsp. apollinea is a variable, half-hardy, erect or spreading annual, short-lived, evergreen perennial, or subshrub with pinnate leaves divided into obovate to oblong, silky-hairy, grey-green leaves and, from midwinter to late spring, racemes of pea-like purple to purple-pink flowers followed by flattened, green seed pods ripening pale brown.
Native to
Arabian Peninsula, Northeastern Africa, Southwestern Asia
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Erect, Spreading
Toxicity
Leaves and roots are used in traditional, herbal medicine. Used for indigo dye. Toxic to fish, insects, and goats. Human ingestion may cause vomiting. Large doses can be fatal.
Create your free Shoot garden
Create your free SHOOT garden and make a record of the plants in your garden.
Add your own photos, notes, get monthly email reminders on how to care for your plants, and connect with other gardeners. Get started now.
Colour
Flower
Purple-pink, Purple in Spring; Purple, Purple-pink in Winter
Foliage
Grey-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free.
Diseases
Generally disease free.
General care
Pruning
Little to no pruning required. Deadhead if desired.
Propagation methods
Seed
Monthly care advice
Get access to monthly care advice
Create a free SHOOT account and get instant access to expert care advice for this and other plants in your garden.
You'll also receive handy monthly email reminders of what needs doing. Create your free account.
Where to grow
Tephrosia purpurea subsp. apollinea (Purple tephrosia) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 0.7m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, Containers, Desert garden/Xeriscaping, Drought Tolerant, Mediterranean, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Outdoors in mild, frost-free climates, grow in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained, rocky or stony soil in full sun. Drought and saline tolerant once established. May bloom throughout the year. Fixes nitrogen in the soil.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
Report content or feedback to Shoot
To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.
Find out more about plant lists here
or Login
To add notes for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To add images for this plant login to your account or register for a new account.
Sign up for freeor Login
To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.
or Login