Florida Museum of Natural History
 
 
Bastard Indigo
Amorpha  fruticosa
 
Family name: Fabaceae
 
Host plant for: Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) and Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
 
General description: Woody, deciduous, multi-branched shrub with airy, pinnately compound leaves and spikes of showy dark violet flowers with contrasting orange stamens. Flowers attract butterflies and other pollinators. Easy to grow, underutilized plant for sun to part-shade locations and maintenance-free once established. Adapts well to most gardens. Thrives with regular moisture and fertilizer. Can be grown as specimen plant.
 
Type: Densely branched shrub
Flower: Spikes of small, dark violet flowers
Bloom time: Spring to fall
Soil type: Moist to dry, well-drained soils
Maximum height: 12 feet
 
Candidate for home gardens: 01/01/2000
Availability in nursery: Specialty and native plant nurseries
Frenquency in the wild: Occasional
Habitat: hardwood forests, wetlands
 
County: Alachua, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, Washington
 
Amorpha fruticosa









  Full sun               Part sun  
 
  Moderate watering