desert false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Desert false indigo is a native shrub that grows wild along streams in much of the United States. Its small purple flowers form upright spikes with conspicuous yellow pollen sacs.

Appearance

Growth form: This deciduous shrub commonly grows about 3–10 ft (1–3 m) tall.
Leaves: Each leaf has many small oval leaflets arranged along a central stem.
Flowers: Upright spikes carry many small purple flowers with yellow-orange anthers.
Flowering time: In Illinois, it blooms in late spring to early summer.
Fruit: Its short pods usually hold one seed.

Look-alikes

leadplantAmorpha canescens

Leadplant has similar purple and yellow flowers, but it usually stays much shorter, around 4–5 ft (1.2–1.5 m). Desert false indigo can become a much larger, spreading shrub.

Why they get mixed upThey are close relatives with similar flower colors.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: streambanks
wet woodland edges
open floodplains
Range: It is native across a broad part of the United States, including Illinois and much of the eastern half of the country.
Preferred conditions: It tolerates wet soil and occasional flooding, though established plants also handle some dry sites.
Flowering: Flowers May–Jun
Flowers May–Jun

Name and classification

About the name: Desert false indigo is also called indigobush or false indigo bush.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: Illinois gardeners sometimes grow it as a native shrub for wet sites and pollinators.
It can also be planted as a screen where there is room for its spreading branches.

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