James H. Schutte
Family
Fabaceae
Botanical Name
AMORPHA canescens
Plant Common Name
False Indigo, Leadplant
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
Grayish light green feathery leaves on leadplant are a nice foil for the dark purple flowers in late summer and early fall. A rounded shrub that is deciduous when winters are very harsh, it is native from the hills and prairies of southern Canada to the south central United States. It was given its common name when it was believed to be an indicator of soils containing lead.
The fragrant leaves are pinnately compound - looking like a feather with ten to twenty pairs of tiny grayish and fuzzy leaflets. Crush them for an aroma. In late summer and early fall, the fuzzy branch tips bear a cluster of slender flower spikes. The blossoms are pea-like and deep purple or dark violet with orange anthers with carry the pollen. They will be visited by butterflies and bees. In mild winter regions the foliage will be nearly evergreen.
Grow leadplant in full sun to light shade in nutrient poor, coarse or average garden soils that have good drainage. This is an excellent shrub for regions with brutally cold winters and dry soils and for hot, dry situations. Use it incorporated into the mixed border or as an accent in a meadow or rock outcropping, or in a concrete median or edge of a paved parking lot. By itself the shrub is rather mundane, but pretty when in flower.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
2 - 8
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Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Width
4'-5' / 1.2m - 1.5m
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Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
North America, United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Purple
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Light Green, Gray Green, Gray
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Bark Color
Gray Green, Silver
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
Yes
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
Yes
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Fine
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Semi-Evergreen
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Showy Bark
Yes
