Clusterspike False Indigo Amorpha herbacea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Amorpha cyanostachya
- Amorpha floridana
- Amorpha herbacea var. floridana
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-MOR-fah her-bah-SEE-uh
- Description
-
Dwarf indigo bush is a North Carolina native deciduous shrub in the pea (Fabaceae) family. It can be found growing in pine flatwoods and sandy river terraces.
While the flowers only have a short bloom time, this plant could be used as a backdrop for smaller plants, creating an interesting texture.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amorpha
- Species:
- herbacea
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Leaf Cutting
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast United States
- Distribution:
- AL , FL , GA , NC , SC
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for the silver-spotted skipper and southern dogface butterflies. Attracts native bees.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Edibility:
- Not edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
-
-
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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Flattened pod .5" long. Displays from July to August.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Description:
- May-July flower spikes 6-8 inches long white to lavender petals
-
-
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 Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The veined leaves are alternate with 25-33 opposite leaflets hairless.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Near Septic
- Patio
- Pond
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
