BlueBell Arboretum & Nursery

Mail order trees, shrubs, conifers and woody climbers

Amorpha fruticosa

Description

A lovely, deciduous plant with exciting, indigo flowers native to the Southern United States which was first introduced to England in 1724. The leaves are pinnate (feather-like) and bright green in spring / summer before showing some yellow tints in a good, crisp autumn before falling.

In midsummer, Amorpha fruticosa has slender racemes of pretty deep purple-blue, nearly black flowers with bright golden stamen. These flowers are very popular with insects and butterflies. An attractive and unusual flowering shrub, ideal for a sunny border!

Features

• Common name: False Indigo.
• Position: Full sun.
• Soil: Any well drained, fertile soil. Amorpha fruticosa will tolerate nutritionally poor soils well.
• Hardiness: Very hardy. This plant is quite tolerant of windy conditions.
• Flowering Period: July.
• Rate of Growth: Moderate.
• Habit: Large branching shrub with an open, rounded habit if left unpruned.
• Height: 3 m (10 ft)
• Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
• Notes: Amorpha fruticosa can be pruned back hard if necessary to tidy or reduce the end size.
• Supplied Size: 40 - 60 cm tall