Amorpha canescens - Leadplant

Morphology/Growth habits: Small, deciduous shrub with deep roots that allow it to survive harsh winters and wildfires. Small purple flowers bloom in the summer in spectacular towers with bright orange stamens, creating a beautiful contrasted color combination. Short hairs covering the leaves give the foliage a gray appearance, hence the name 'Leadplant'. 

Height: 2-3 ft

Light: Full Sun-Part Sun

Moisture: Medium-Dry

Bloom color: Purple, orange

Bloom time: June-August

Habitat/Best Environments: Resilient shrub that is found in prairies and open woodlands. It can tolerate a variety of soil conditions but grows best in sandier, somewhat drier soils.

Ecological relationships: Bright flowers attract many pollinators. Amorpha genus is a part of the legume family, which is known to have an especially beneficial relationship between the bacteria on its roots and fungi in the soil—leading to higher nitrogen in the soil and more nutrients for your plants! Host plant for Southern Dogface butterflies. *Leaves are used to make tea and smoked in Oglala culture. Decoction of the roots is used for stomach pain in Anishinaabe medicine. 

*Please soil test and do proper research before growing a plant for human consumption