Prairie Shoestring Amorpha canescens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-MOR-fah kan-ESS-senz
- Description
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The native leadplant can typically be found growing in well-drained open spaces such as sandy flats and valleys, hillsides, streambanks, woodlands, glades, and prairies. It does best in sunny, sandy or rocky, well-drained soil. If grown in a shady location, it will sprawl along the ground towards a more sunny area. Its tiny purple flowers are grouped together in showy terminal spikes. The leaves are covered with short, dense hairs. This covering gives a gray tint to the leaves, making the plant appear as have been dusted with lead. Thus the common name.
Its roots can reach depths up to 4 feet and sometimes deeper. These deep roots help the plants survival during wildfires.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Although this plant has no serious disease or insect problems, there is some susceptibility to leaf spots, rust, canker, and powdery mildew. It needs to be protected from deer, rabbits and other herbivores.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amorpha
- Species:
- canescens
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AR, CO, IA, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WI, WY
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds and butterflies. A valuable plant for native bees. Deer and other mammals eat the fruit.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought, poor site conditions, poor soil
- Edibility:
- Dried leaves make a yellow-colored tea.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit does not grow in abundance.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small flowers appear along 2-6" spikes that grow at the ends of major branches. The purple-blue flowers have yellow-gold anthers (the part of the stamen that contains the pollen). They bloom from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The showy leaves are alternate, compound pinnate with 14 to 45 leaflets (0.3 to 1 in. long), dense, and have a grayish pubescence.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Poor Soil
