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Bush Indigo

Quail use as covey headquarters; silver spotted skipper host plant; 2 bee species depend on Amorpha species

$3.00$129.00

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Description

Amoprpha fruticosa, also known as Indigo Bush or False Indigo, is a native Nitrogen fixing deciduous shrub in the legume family that typically grows 5-10 feet tall and 6-15 feet wide. It is a hardy shrub with distinct fern-like foliage similar to many of its relatives in the legume (pea) family. Fragrant blooms form in early summer.

Wildlife notes

Bees suck nectar or collect pollen, while beetles and flower flies suck nectar or feed on pollen.  White-tailed Deer browse on this shrub sparingly.

 

Forage notes

Currently no information available. Please let us know if you have any personal experience with this plant.

Landscaping notes

Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Tolerant of occasional flooding. Also tolerates poor, sandy, somewhat dry soils. May spread by self-seeding and/or suckers to form thickets. Prune in late winter to early spring to improve shrub form. Indigo bush matures to large spreading shrub, sometimes reaching up to 15 ft in full sun.  In the right location with some room to spread, it creates a wonderful natural screen or hedge-type planting. For a smaller version of this plant with similar flowers, consider adding Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

Restoration notes

In its native range, it can be found in moist open woodland areas, floodplains, stream banks and swamp margins. It is often used for erosion control, windbreaks and screens. Good shrub for moist naturalized areas or areas with poor soils.  As with many other plants that occur along stream systems, it is adapted to a wide range of conditions and can tolerate very wet soils, including occasional flooding.

Additional information

Weight N/A
Unit

Packet, Ounce, Pound

Light

Full Sun

Soils

Moist

Height

60"-100"

Bloom Month

May, Jun

Color

Blue

Specialty Uses

Butterfly, Wildlife

What is PLS?

Pure Live Seed (PLS) is the portion of good viable seed per pound. It is a measure of the seed that is alive and able to sprout into plants. This product is sold by PLS ounce/pound. To provide one ounce/pound of viable seed, you will receive more than one ounce/pound of product. Read more about PLS here.