Indigofera cassioides

Indigofera cassioides is a shrub in the pea family, Fabaceae. It is deciduous, which means it sheds its leaves. Its native range spans the Indian subcontinent, southern China, and Indochina. It grows in tropical lands with a dry season. In the wild, it grows in sal forests and grassland. It also grows in scrub, open woods, and on hills and slopes. Records place it up to 8,860 feet [2,700 metres] above sea level.

The shrub has upright branches and can reach 9.8 feet [3 metres]. Many plants do not reach that height. It sends up suckers, or new shoots, from its rootstock. These shoots give growers one way to raise new plants. Insects pollinate the flowers. People sometimes eat the flowers as a vegetable. The supplied sources give no flower colour or bloom dates. They give no details of leaf shape for this species. Nor do they describe its fruit form.

In gardens, this shrub needs sun and soil that drains well. Light or medium soils suit it. It can grow on chalk, too. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 8–11. It suggests sunny sites at the edges of woods. It also suggests sites beside south- or west-facing walls. Bacteria form nodules, or small lumps, on the roots. They capture nitrogen from the air. The shrub uses some of this nitrogen to grow. Plants nearby may gain some benefit, too.

People gather wild plants for food, folk medicine, and fuel. One folk use treats coughs with a root decoction. This is a liquid made by boiling the roots. Another uses dried roots, ground to powder, on the chest for pain. These records show uses, not proof that the treatments work. People use the branches for fences and fuel. The hard wood has black heartwood and white sapwood. Its small size limits how much timber it can yield. Useful Tropical Plants reports no known hazards. This does not mean every use is safe.

Growers can raise plants from seeds, cuttings, or suckers. The seed guide calls for a 12-hour soak in warm water. Sow in containers kept in light shade. Seeds may vary in how well they sprout. Half-ripe stem cuttings offer another way to raise plants. Growers can also take root cuttings while plants are dormant. Remove suckers while growth is at rest, best near its end. Then replant them. Plants For A Future does not flag this species as weedy. The supplied evidence names no pest or disease problems for this species.