Indigofera tinctoria (species)

Indigofera tinctoria, commonly known as true indigo, is a plant species valued for producing a natural blue dye historically used in textiles like denim. It belongs to the legume family and grows as a shrub or small tree with compound leaves and clusters of pink flowers. The plant's leaves contain indican, a compound that, when fermented and processed, yields indigo dye. This natural dye has been used for centuries in various cultures for coloring fabrics, offering an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic blue dyes. Indigofera tinctoria continues to be cultivated today for sustainable dye production.