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indigo plant seeds for sale Ossabaw Indigo (Sea Island Indigo) – Experimental Farm Network Seed StoreIndigofera suffruticosa Origin: Ossabaw Island, Georgia Improvement status: Feral Seeds per packet: ~35 seeds (roughly 25 pods) BOTANICAL SAMPLE NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Annual or tender perennial It's an honor and a privilege to be offering these seeds. Because of Ossabaw Indigo's long and deep history, much of the reality of this plant's story will never be known. The most tragic details have been obscured by the legacy of brutal
Indigofera suffruticosa
Origin: Ossabaw Island, Georgia
Improvement status: Feral
Seeds per packet: ~35 seeds (roughly 25 pods)
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Annual or tender perennial
It's an honor and a privilege to be offering these seeds. Because of Ossabaw Indigo's long and deep history, much of the reality of this plant's story will never be known. The most tragic details have been obscured by the legacy of brutal enslavement and oppression of African people. But there is much we can infer — and what we do know speaks of deep resilience of both plants and human beings.
The Sea Islands line the southeastern US coast from northern Florida to South Carolina. European colonization in the 1600s led to the violent expulsion of the region's indigenous people — including the Guale, Mocama, and Creek peoples — whose communities were swiftly replaced with massive plantations producing primarily rice and cotton with the forced labor of untold numbers of enslaved people. We know that slavery in the Sea Islands was part of a horrifying system of organized terror in which families were torn apart and people were treated worse than animals — and that this system generated wealth beyond belief for the white families who directed it using brutal violence and coercion. We also know that their descendants still benefit from all that wealth and that the white supremacist power-structure instituted during the days of slavery did not disappear with the abolition of slavery itself. Indeed, it persists in various manifestations to this day.
—
In the mid-1700s, Eliza Lucas — the 16-year-old daughter of a newly arrived British colonial officer — was put in charge of dozens of enslaved people and hundreds of acres. She is credited with launching the indigo industry in the Southeast (and, shamefully, still widely viewed as a symbol of female empowerment, despite the terrible cruelty inherent to her business). With seeds sent by her father from the Caribbean (where she was raised), and no doubt with the expertise of the African people her family kept in bondage (some of whom may well have had experience with indigo production in Africa), the Lucas family became incredibly wealthy supplying vivid blue dye to buyers in Great Britain.
The Revolutionary War led to the demise of the indigo industry in the Sea Islands after just a few decades, as the enslavers lost access to their main market. Rice and cotton once again predominated. During this time, many of the white people who claimed ownership of the islands actually lived on the mainland — unwilling to expose themselves to the isolation, malaria, and occasional hurricanes that mark life on barrier islands in the region — so this relative isolation meant that the African and African-descended people forced to work on the islands were able to maintain much more of their ancestral traditions than enslaved peoples elsewhere in North America. Eventually, the Civil War led white slavers to abandon their plantations completely for many years.
During the Union occupation of the islands and especially following the Emancipation Proclamation, the formerly enslaved people of the Sea Islands largely managed their own affairs. There were high hopes at the time that they would be granted ownership of the land — which would have provided some measure of justice and recompense for their decades in chains — but the government refused to enact such a program, and most of the white landowners eventually resumed control of the land. The formerly enslaved families then did what most of their cousins across the Southeast did: continued living on the land where they had been enslaved, eking out a living as sharecroppers, tenant farmers, and laborers.
But their relative isolation continued, and that in turn led to the ongoing flourishing of what is known today as Gullah-Geechee culture. Gullah language — which combines English and a multitude of African languages, including Menda, Vai, and Fulani — is still spoken by a few hundred remaining native speakers, plus a few thousand others. It is the only surviving African creole language in the United States. Beyond the linguistic connection to Africa, Gullah-Geechee cultural practices, including distinctive arts and crafts, traditional farming and fishing techniques, music, religious belief systems, rice-based foodways, and story-telling traditions, are all marked by clear West and Central African influences.
—
Ossabaw Island is the third largest of Georgia's coastal islands. With no road or causeway to the island, it escaped much of the development of the other islands (some of which have become opulent summer playgrounds for the rich and well-connected). Ossabaw was used by a handful of tenant-farmers through the early part of the 20th century, but by 1916 the whole of the island was owned by one man who used it as a hunting retreat (no doubt a favored target was the now-rare Ossabaw Island Hog, descended from a Canary Islands breed brought to the island by early Spanish colonists or adventurists). In 1924, it was sold to a wealthy Michigan couple from Grosse Pointe who used it as a winter home. Thankfully, in 1961, not long after ownership had passed to their daughter, Eleanor "Sandy" Torrey West and a brother, Mrs. West and her husband Clifford created the Ossabaw Foundation and the Ossabaw Island Project. The island soon became an artistic, scientific, and cultural retreat center. Luminaries including Ralph Ellison, Aaron Copeland, and Margaret Atwood are known to have spent time enjoying its natural beauty and solitude. In 1978, no longer able to afford to manage the operation, Sandy West and her brother's children negotiated a landmark agreement to sell the island (for half of its appraised value) to the State of Georgia as a permanent Heritage Preserve. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources technically controls it now, but the Ossabaw Foundation has a contract to maintain day-to-day management of the island, regulating access and use of historic areas.
In 2007, the Foundation's longtime manager of Ossabaw, the late Jim Bitler, realized that a patch of unassuming leguminous plants with small orange flowers was actually a type of indigo. He began growing some of the plants, and soon shared his discovery with a natural dye enthusiast named Donna Hardy, who further spread the news of this fascinating find and began offering workshops and working to create an artisanal Sea Island indigo industry to benefit the local community. Donna has also figured out the best ways to process the fresh leaves into vivid blue pigment. Researchers from Clemson University got involved as well, and it was quickly realized that the species of indigo growing on Ossabaw was not the common indigo (an African species known as Indigofera tinctoria), but rather a species commonly known as "Guatemalan Indigo" (Indigofera suffruticosa). Used by Central American peoples to create an especially vivid blue color, the pigment produced by this species is known as "Mayan Blue."
It's assumed by most everyone involved with Ossabaw indigo these days that this was the species cultivated on Ossabaw in the 1700s, and that it managed to escape cultivation and naturalize in the island's mild climate. We assumed this for a while ourselves too, but recently learned that Indigofera suffruticosa is considered a native species not only in Central America but all along the coast of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean to as far north as North Carolina (and as far south as Argentina, believe it or not). The populations are rather disjunct, based on county reports listed on the USDA-NRCS's PLANTS Database, so it's entirely possible that each report represents another example of feral "Guatemalan Indigo," and that the species didn't reach the Carolinas until the past few centuries. But it actually seems just as likely that the plant was already on Ossabaw when Eliza Lucas arrived — brought there by birds or tides — and that the seeds she started with (known to have been sent by her father from the Caribbean) were the more commonly grown Indigofera tinctoria, or "true indigo," which didn't naturalize as readily (though is also found in the Carolinas). We'll likely never know anything close to the full story of this plant. But in any event, that this largely tropical species should have a range extending into the Carolinas is an impressive sign of its resilience and fortitude.
—
We were given our initial seed stock by Dr. David Shields, noted scholar, author, Southern foodways expert, and University of South Carolina professor. He told Nate they were grown on Daufuskie Island, SC. We figured it would require a very long season, so weren't optimistic about producing seeds in New Jersey, but we got a bumper crop the first time we tried it — spring-planted plants begin flowering for us in June — with enough seed produced in a 20 foot row to offer it in the catalog the following winter. Ossabaw Indigo has since become widely grown, and in the process it's managed to demonstrate an ability to grow well and even produce seeds as far north as New England. It's reseeded a few times for us in New Jersey — with little plants popping up far later than I would start them and that need attention from us in order to beat their weedy plant neighbors in daily competition — but I expect it probably could only naturalize if grown in a place with large patches of ground that lack weed pressure.
If anyone of Gullah-Geechee heritage would like to grow these seeds, please get in touch with us. We will keep some seeds in reserve and would be happy to send them to you at no charge. We will also be donating 25% of the cost of these packets to a Gullah-Geechee community organization (in consultation with Gullah-Geechee friends).
GROWING TIPS: Start indoors a few weeks before last frost, and plant out once all danger of frost has passed. Seeds should be planted half an inch deep. Seedlings don't mind being crowded, but ultimately plants should be spaced out by at least 8 inches. In New Jersey the tallest grew almost four feet during the season. They began flowering in June and were still flowering by the time frosts arrived in fall. We are selling seeds still in their pods, each of which contains between zero and four viable seeds. We recommend breaking up the pods before planting, but it's probably not required.
NOTE: Due to the scarcity of seed, we decided not to sacrifice the amount of seed required for a full germination test, but the small sample size we tested did result in some germination, so we are confident you will get some plants. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, please contact us.
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4.4 ★★★★★
Based on 25 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 1
Do not buy… false advertising does not move!!
Color: Red
Terrible!!!
No directions & no movement at all!!!
Button?? Push….
Sure there is no button
No way to charge…
Scam
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Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great toy for dogs
Color: Red
My dog loves this toy, it was well worth the money. And I’m glad it charges with USB and not batteries.
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Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Finally, a Toy That Out-Works My Dog!
Color: Blue
My dog gets bored easily, and this automatic moving ball has been a hilarious and effective distraction. It bounces and rotates on its own, which triggers her hunting instinct immediately. The rope chew attached to the side is a nice touch for some added teeth cleaning while she plays. It’s sturdy enough for a medium-sized dog and the fact that it's waterproof means I don't have to worry when she eventually drops it in the water bowl or takes it out into the melting snow. The *only* issue I have is it starts before I can even screw it back together. It wants to jump out of my hands before I'm ready.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2026
★★★★★ 5
My dogs think this is either terrifying or amazing
Color: Blue
I got this interactive dog toy thinking it would turn my living room into a fun little chase arena for my two small dogs. Technically, it did create excitement, but not in the way I expected. The toy rolls around unpredictably and wiggles its rope like it is trying to escape, which is honestly hilarious to watch. The movement is surprisingly energetic and the different speed modes keep it from feeling repetitive or robotic. The battery life is decent and it charges quickly, so it is easy to keep it ready for playtime.
Now for the comedy... my one year old Silky Terrier is normally the fearless one. He charges vacuum cleaners, interrogates delivery boxes, and believes he is the head of household security. However, the moment this toy turns on and starts moving, he suddenly remembers he has very important business somewhere else. He will sit at a safe distance and stare at it like it might file a police report against him.
The funny part is that when the toy is turned off, it instantly becomes his favorite object in the house. He happily grabs the rope, drags it around, chews on it, and proudly carries it like a trophy. Apparently his bravery only applies when the toy is not alive. I have discovered that in my house this is considered the acceptable mode of operation.
My seven year old Yorkie is even wiser. She took one look at the moving toy, processed the situation for approximately three seconds, and decided she would absolutely not be participating in whatever nonsense was happening on the floor. She calmly walked away and has maintained that policy ever since. She clearly understands this toy and wants no part of it.
Overall the toy is well made, entertaining, and definitely capable of keeping energetic dogs busy. Even if your dogs end up like mine and treat it as either a suspicious creature or a decorative rope toy, it still provides plenty of entertainment for the humans watching the situation unfold. If your dog enjoys chasing unpredictable moving toys, this one will probably become a household favorite. If not, you may at least get a very funny show out of it. 🐶
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Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2026
★★★★★ 3
Just another reason to bark.
Color: Blue
I was so excited to come across this Interactive Dog Toy from Mewzoo, figuring that it would be a great way to give our dog some inside exercise during the rainy season that we have in this neck of the woods. It arrives with a charger, instructions and two ropes that can be tied to it, and it took about 2 hours to get it fully charged.
In order to get it moving, one needs to unscrew the blue plastic piece and that gives access to the control inside of it. It has three speeds, but the faster speeds only seem to lessen the time intervals for when it moves, they don't make it move any faster or further. This is kind of a bummer, because it really does not move very far, it mostly just stays within a foot or two of where it started. So not much exercise potential here, unless you consider barking exercise. Barking is one thing we do not need more of in this household, so this toy is a bit of a flop for us. I imagined that our boy might run circles around it and get a bit more hyper, maybe even grab it by the rope and carry it around for a bit. In the beginning I think he was fearful because he just barked at it of it, and then he decided it was time to eat. As you can see in the video, after only a few minutes with it, it looks like he's decided it's just a nuisance, lol.
The concept is good, and the toy itself is reasonably constructed to withstand some playtime. I just think it needs to have more movement and skitter around better to cover more distance. Then again at the whopping price of $10.99, i really can't complain.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2026