Maruba, Tade Ai Persicaria Tinctoria Round leaf Pink Flower Indigo
Maruba, Tade Ai Persicaria Tinctoria Round leaf Pink Flower Indigo

Maruba, Tade Ai Persicaria Tinctoria Round leaf Pink Flower Indigo

Regular price £4.50 Sale

 SEED FOR 2024 SEED TO RESTOCK NOVEMBER 14TH 2023

This product does not ship outside of the UK.

 "Maruba" in Japanese language, literally means round leaf, another of the original Japanese indigo varieties, hailing from China, and grown in Tokushima, Japan.  Used primarily for the purpose of making indigo compost pigment called "Sukumo". This plant will also release indoxyl into water, notably a little slightly slower than its pointed leaf cousins. 

Leaves are well rounded and in some cases cupped, spires in a fork formation of pink blooms, set later in the season. Max height achieved 2022 90 cm.

Have noted poker straight and upright branches achieved at planting 25 cm intervals.

Sow seeds into fine seeding soil in tray, prick out and pot on to establish. Pluck out center leaves to encouraging bushing. Alternatively sow seeds three per cell and pot up prior to planting out, after the last frost. 

Best planted in a sheltered area, in full to partial sun. a slightly slower variety which can take 6 to 8 weeks to hit first maturity marker. Possibly my new favourite of 2023. 

Enjoys good quality nitrogen rich compost and is a heavy drinker. Water well. 

Just as blooms are beginning to show ( green flower spikes from central stem ) or before, circa 3" circa 90cm. Harvest the branches leaving 6-8 cms of stem. The first harvest always encourages the plant to grow back thicker. 

Harvest should always be completed before blooms are beginning to set to achieve best pigment.

Harvesting after plant is blooming will alter the indigo quantity and quality.

Seeds are the tiniest in the Persicaria Tinctoria range. Therefore, a gram quantity is reduced.

2grams per pack circa 

Grown & Harvest in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, GB.

SEED SAVERS:

If you plan to save seed please keep species separate. A net supported on a frame or bamboo canes is a good place to start. Maruba has a slightly different flower head formation. Flower heads are tight groups of flower spikes in an almost obovate to elliptical formation. Compared to Senbon blooms, which opens in an unwinding telescopic fashion. Hope that makes sense.