Shrubs
Amorpha fruticosa
False indigo bush
Purple flower spikes dotted with golden stamens rise above airy, divided leaves. This vigorous native shrub spreads by seed and suckers, forming broad thickets. It is especially useful in naturalized plantings, along pond margins and in larger rain gardens.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Mature size
- 4–15 ft. tall × 6–15 ft. wide
- Water
- Adaptable; moist to dry soil
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 4–9
- Bloom
- Purple with gold stamens; late spring–early summer
Sizes & prices
- #1$24.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
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Resistance & tolerances
- Deer
- Resistant; not browse-proof.
- Drought
- Tolerates dry soil once established.
- Wet soil
- Tolerates wet soil.
Resistance is not a guarantee; deer and rabbits may browse any plant.
Pollinators & wildlife
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Native range
- Native range / parentage
- North American native species. Species native to Kentucky.
- Tristate native status
- Species native to Kentucky.
Keep in mind: Spreads readily by suckers and seed; allow room or manage its spread.
Seasonal interest
- Foliage
- Deciduous.
Growing & care
- Pruning
- Prune in late winter or early spring before buds open.
- Flowering wood
- New growth.
Sources & photo credits
University of Illinois Extension
Photo: Andrey Zharkikh · CC BY 2.0
Image notes: False indigo bush. Representative plant; resized and re-encoded, not cropped.
Reviewed September 21, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.