Planting Japanese Indigo
So you've either gotten some Japanese Indigo Seeds or you're considering getting some to plant. This magical plant produces a natural blue color from it's bright green leaves! It's a wonder to grow... And if you let it grow to maturity - it will produce more seeds than you can ever imagine for next season.
Japanese Indigo - Persicaria tinctoria - is an annual plant that grows in zones 2-11 making it very versatile. From my experience in growing in Los Angeles - where we sometimes have very hot and dry periods - the indigo thrives the most when planted in a sunny spot that gets some shade during the hottest part of the afternoon.
It can also be grown in pots and/or planter boxes. If growing in a hot and dry climate such as Los Angeles, it's important to make sure to regularly water the plants in pots as the soil will dry out faster than ground planting.
The seeds should be planted outside after the threat of frost and freezing is gone. When planting outside you can plant directly into the soil - approximately 1/4" deep.
If you live in a region with frost and freezing temps into the Springtime- you can plant the seeds inside in temporary containers to later be transplanted outside. I like to recycle old plastic containers. The clear plastic ones are especially helpful because you can see the moisture level inside to get an idea of when you've over or under watered it. Just poke a few holes in the bottom of the container for drainage.
The best part about Japanese Indigo is that you can dye easily with the fresh leaves. Stay posted for a separate blog post about how to do this easy dye. Following are a few photos of things I've dyed including some silk tops and cotton Sashiko thread. The thread is also currently for sale on our website! 2025 Japanese Indigo Seeds are also available on our website!
It's important to know that indigo seeds need to be re-planted in the same year/seasont they are harvested. They will loose their viability over time and may or may not produce plants if left unplanted after a year or more. So if you buy seeds this year be sure to plant them this year. And when they get through their cycle wait until the flowers form and harvest the seeds once they turn dark brown in color.
Happy Growing!
Erin Han - East West Shop
I would like to offer a huge THANK YOU to Liz Spencer aka The Dogwood Dyer for sending me my original seeds back in 2020. I've kept the seeds alive by planting, dyeing and collecting the seeds - every year since. Liz has so many classes and online resources for natural dyeing. Visit her website or follow her on Instagram to learn more!
