Wildflower Wednesday: Amorpha fruticosa

As May draws to a close, it's time celebrate native wildflowers. This month, I'm sharing our Amorpha fruticosa, also known as False Indigo Bush. In nature, this upright forming shrub grows in moist open woodlands, floodplains, along river banks and edges of swamps in most of U.S. States and Eastern Canada. The first time I saw this shrub was along Lake Hartwell (Georgia), while teaching a native plant merit badge class at my sons' Scout camp. I knew I needed one for our garden.

copyright Karin Hicks @ Southern Meadows

We had a perfect spot for it to grow at the edge of a dry creek bed that often sees heavy water flow from rainfall or when we back wash our pond. A few years ago, I finally found one at a local, native plant sale. Score! 

copyright Karin Hicks @ Southern Meadows


In our garden, it receives part sun, sheltered from late afternoon sun by the surrounding paw paw trees and stately red oak. The deep purple flowers contrasted with orange anthers bloom in spring. From late April through May, they provide rich nectar for all sorts of pollinators; bees, butterflies and beneficial insects. 


copyright Karin Hicks @ Southern Meadows


The leaves indicate it is a member of the Fabaceae (Pea) family with its alternate, compound arrangement. The silver-spotted skipper and dogface sulphur butterflies use this shrub as a host plant for their larval stage, as do several species of moths and beetles (long-horned beetle).


copyright Karin Hicks @ Southern Meadows


Described as 'leadplant' (Amorpha canescens) on steroids, Amorpha fruticosa is a vigorous growing, deciduous shrub that will form thickets where there is suitable moisture; yet is tolerant of a range of soils from poor/dry to moist/damp areas. Its extensive root system makes it useful as a windbreak or to prevent soil erosion. It has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, which form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. This shrub will use some of this nitrogen, but it also shares with plants nearby.


copyright Karin Hicks @ Southern Meadows


In 2019, at the Garden Blogger Fling in Denver, I saw what this plant will look like at maturity. The branches danced against the bright blue sky, showing off the fabulous flowers.


copyright Karin Hicks @ Southern Meadows


I am looking forward to this specimen reaching these heights in our garden. What native wildflowers have you added to your garden lately? Need some inspiration? Check out more Wildflower Wednesday at Clay and Limestone

Comments

  1. Holy moly, what a beauty! I hope I can visit your garden sometime, it sounds beautiful. Happy WW. xo

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    1. You are welcome to visit any time Gail! I would love to walk around our garden with you and chat natives.

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  2. How big is yours now? I kind of balked at getting one because of the thicket/spread habit.

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    1. Definitely a plant that needs space to spread. Ours is about 3 feet tall and wide. Still young. You probably have some great spots along the lake for one of these.

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  3. We have one and it is now a large sub-tree in the garden. I got back and forth between liking that we planted it where we did and other times wish we'd planted it elsewhere. You definitely have to trim up any suckers that come up or you will end up with a thicket---unless you want at thicket!

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    1. I feel that way about some plants too. Sometimes it is hard to envision how a plant will look at maturity in the selected planting spot. Fortunately we have space for it to spread.

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  4. Congratulations on your find! It really adds character to your garden. I like the form, the foliage, and the flowers.

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    1. It's been in the ground for a few years now and is doing well. Probably still getting its roots established. I'm wondering how the competition will be between our two thicket forming plants (paw paw and indigo bush). We'll see...

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  5. I have not seen that one before - it's beautiful!
    Have a wonderful day!

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    1. Happy to introduce you to a new plant. It's a good one for the right place.

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  6. That's a VERY interesting plant. I've never seen it before but, when I read that it requires moist conditions, that told me why that is. Regrettably, I can't grow anything that wants damp soil.

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  7. Great plant. Tried to grow it once but not enough sun, I think.

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One of my favorite things about blogging is the conversation with readers. Leave a comment and let's get talking. ~Karin

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