Species Detail Woody, Cacti, Succulent

Wolf Creek Area
Sue Smith

Yavapai County Native & Naturalized Plants

Amorpha fruticosa - false indigo bush

Synonyms: Amorpha bushii, Amorpha croceolanata, A. curtissii, A. dewinkeleri, for more synonyms see USDA Plants database.

Other Common Names: bastard indigo, indigo bush, spice-bush

Plant Form:Shrub

Family: Fabaceae


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Leaves Wolf Creek Area Sue Smith	Flower Wolf Creek Area Sue Smith
Plant Description Origin: Native Similar Species: Amorpha californica General Description: Deciduous. A tall, leggy, loose, airy, minutely hairy shrub with compound leaves that grows in dense stands along stream banks and wherever there is moisture. The majority of foliage is on the upper third of the plant. Identification notes: Shrub without prickly glands; leaves compound with minutely hairy, oval-shaped, spine-tipped leaflets; flower cluster is spike-shaped with flowers on short stems; single purple petal and 10 protruding stamens with yellow anthers; fruit is a smooth pod. Height: Up to 10 feet Width: 5 feet Habitat Habitat Description: In canyons and along stream banks. Plant Communities: Riparian Elevation: 2500 - 6500 feet Flowers Color: Deep bluish-purple Shape: Irregular in elongated clusters Tubular: Y Flowering Period: May - Jul Description: Deep bluish-purple flowers have 1 petal; anthers long bright orange or yellow, 3/8 inch long by 1/8 inch wide. Dense showy flower spikes to 7 inches long are on slender stems at the ends of branches. Sepals less than 1/2 the length of the floral tube. Leaves Leaf Color: Grayish-green Type: Compound Shape: Round or oval Margin: Smooth Attachment: Alternate Hairs: Bottom of leaves Description: Darker above, lighter below, about 10 inches long, with 11 to 21 oblong leaflets. Leaflets are velvety on the lower surface, often abruptly rounded at both ends with a small point at their apex; leaflet margins are sometimes almost parallel. Fruit Color: Green Type: Pod Description: Pods are glandular dotted and usually contain only 1 seed. Similar to tiny cucumbers, bright green and drying to brown. Pods are from 1/4 to 1/2 inch long and smooth. Bark/Branches Bark Color: Brownish Bark Texture (Mature): Smooth Bark and Branch Description: Twigs are grayish-brown and somewhat grooved below the nodes. Spines, thorns or prickles: N


	Arizona Cooperative Extension Yavapai County 840 Rodeo Dr #C Prescott, AZ 86305 (928) 445-6590	Version 8.0 http://cales.arizona.edu/yavapaiplants/SpeciesDetail.php Last Updated: Dec 13, 2022 Content Questions/Comments: Email Matt Halldorson Legal Disclaimer