False Indigo Bush
Amorpha fruticosa
False indigo bush is a fast nitrogen-fixing shrub with spikes of tiny purple flowers lit by orange anthers, a larval host for several butterflies. Tolerates wet or dry; can spread vigorously, so site with care.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Type
- shrub
- Lifespan
- perennial
- Height
- 4–12 ft
- Spacing
- 6–15 ft apart
- Light
- sun, part shade
- Soil moisture
- dry, moist
- Soil pH
- acidic, neutral, alkaline
- Bloom
- April, May, June
- Bloom colors
- orange, blue, purple
- Wildlife value
- butterflies, larval host
- Landscape uses
- border, hedge or screen, naturalizing, rain garden
- Native states
- AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY