False Indigobush
Amorpha fruticosa
False Indigobush is also known as Bastard Indigobush…this is a real selling point. It is found throughout North America to Palm Beach County. In our area I have only found it near the Loxahatchee and St. Lucie rivers, although I’m sure it is near other local rivers.
It likes moist soil that doesn’t flood for long and makes a nice six to eight foot tall thicket with sparkly purple flowers on a moderate number of six inch long tail like racemes. These are most abundant in the spring.
The hard thistle like seeds are eaten by birds and the foliage is the larval food for the silver spotted skipper and southern dogface butterflies. The dogface is not a local butterfly though.
Full sun to partial shade and a moderately rich soil are required, yet it can be surprisingly drought tolerant once established. The feathery compound foliage of False Indigobush is a nice break in texture and can be planted near a window to give a “country” look and break up a dull foundation planting.
Plant a mass if you have a wet area of the yard or mix it in with Saw Palmetto, Buttonbush, Willow, Wax Myrtle, Beautyberry, Spartina Grass, Cypress, Red Maple and other wetland species.