← Bedfellow

Leadplant

Amorpha canescens

Silvery, felted foliage topped by spikes of tiny purple flowers lit with orange anthers. A deep-rooted legume that signals healthy, intact prairie. The dried leaves brew into a pleasant yellow tea.

Family

Fabaceae

Type

shrub

Lifespan

perennial

Height

2–3 ft

Spacing

2–2.5 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

June, July

Bloom colors

blue, purple

Wildlife value

pollinators, butterflies, mammals, songbirds

Landscape uses

border

Native states

AR, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WI, WY