False Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa)

False Indigo Bush

(Amorpha fruticosa)

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

CC BY-SA 4.0

Image By: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz | License Type: CC BY-SA 4.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 | Uploader: Kenraiz | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Amorpha_fruticosa_kz03.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description={{en|1=Amorpha fruticosa in Bupyung, Korea}} {{ko|1=부평 만월산에 사는 족제비싸리}} |Source=Own work by uploader |Author=[[User:Dalgial|Dalgial]] |Date=2008. 7. 1 |Permission= |other_versions= }} {{ImageUpload|full |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Amorpha fruticosa, commonly known as False Indigo Bush, is a deciduous shrub native to a variety of habitats including open woodlands, prairies, and riparian zones across Eastern and Central USA, as well as parts of the Southwestern USA. It typically grows to a height of 5 or 6 meters (16 or 20 feet) and can spread to twice that in width. The False Indigo Bush has a bushy form with compound leaves composed of many small, hairy, oval-shaped leaflets. From late spring to early summer, it produces showy, spike-shaped racemes of purple flowers, each with a single petal and prominent yellow stamens, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

The plant is valued for its nitrogen-fixing ability, which can improve soil fertility, and its dense growth habit, making it suitable for use as a natural screen or hedge. It is also used for erosion control and in naturalized areas. False Indigo Bush thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soils but is adaptable to various soil conditions. While it tolerates drought, it benefits from occasional watering during prolonged dry spells. It is generally low-maintenance but can spread aggressively by root suckers. Gardeners should be aware of its potential to become invasive outside its native range and manage its spread accordingly.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Shrub
Height: 4-12 feet
Width: 6-15 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Purple
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium
Drainage: Fast, Medium

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Fire Resistant, Fragrant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands, prairies, and riparian zones across Eastern and Central USA, as well as parts of the Southwestern USA

Other Names

Common Names: Bastard Indigo , False Indigo , Indigobush Amorpha , Desert False Indigo , Desert Indigobush , Dullleaf Indigo , False Indigobush , Indigobush , Leadplant , Gemeiner Bastardindigo

Scientific Names: Amorpha fruticosa , Amorpha fruticosa var. angustifolia , Amorpha fruticosa var. occidentalis , Amorpha fragrans , Amorpha virgata , Amorpha croceolanata , Amorpha occidentalis , Amorpha fruticosa var. tenesseensis , Amorpha angustifolia , Amorpha bushii

GBIF Accepted Name: Amorpha fruticosa L.