SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — Many people may have seen the native Plains Wild Indigo spread across the dunes on the Island and shrugged it off as a beach weed.
But that’s not the case.
“It is an exquisite perennial,” said Linda McGonigle, a Native Plant Center advisory board member. “It can be found growing in the dune and beach areas of Cameron and Willacy counties.”
For the month of April the Plains Wild Indigo is the Island’s plant of the month.
“This is a beautiful specimen,” Linda said. “It’s just now starting to bloom.”
The Plains Wild Indigo grows to about one to two fee tall, but it can reach as tall as 32 inches. Their blooming period is spring time.
“They are great velvety leaves but lose their color by the end of summer,” Linda said. “It takes several years for them to start blooming.”
They are available for purchase at the Native Plant Center.
The Native Plant Center & Island Arboretum is an outdoor garden featuring native plant exhibits and bedding communities unique to South Padre Island.
“We do the plant of the month to encourage native people to use the plants in their garden and in their yard,” said Alita Bagley, SPI commissioner.
“They are much easier to grow and they are a whole lot low maintenance and they are good for all the butterflies.”
