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Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa)
Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa)
Indigo Bush (Amorpha fruticosa)
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POTTED PLANTS
A medium-size shrub for landscaping, wildlife seed, and cover. Host to silver-spotted skippers. Handles dry or wet conditions.
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Item #:
AMFRU
Binomial
Amorpha fruticosa
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Quart pot: $5.50
Gallon/larger: $9.50
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Description
Questions and Answers
We may have to trim these before shipping.
Indigo bush is a mid-size shrub with fragrant flowers. Bright orange anthers contrast with the indigo-colored, tubular petals. The plants contains small quantities of indigo pigments, which explains where the common name comes from.
It's a good plant for wildlife. The flowers attract a variety of bees looking for nectar and pollen. It is a caterpillar host plant for the silver-spotted skipper, southern dogface, black-spotted prominent, and the common tan wave. Quail use the seeds as a food source, while red-winged blackbirds may use the plant for nesting.
It is native to much of the United States, including Missouri, and can often be found on stream banks. However, it is not native to New England or the Pacific Northwest. In these areas, it is often listed as an invasive exotic that displaces other plants in sensitive riparian areas.
Uses: Rain garden, butterflies, bees, wind break, erosion control, poor soil
Bloom time: May & June
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Space: 5 to 8 feet
Light: Sun to light shade
Moisture: Average to moist
Q:
Hi, There are several Indigo Bushes in a rain garden that I have adopted through the city of Columbia. They have grown extremely well and could use fairly significant trimming. When should I cut them back? Any tips? And do they also shoot out runners that I should watch for? Thank you! Tricia
Asked by:
Tricia Wegner
- 7/23/2018
A:
It would probably be best to prune in winter or early spring while the plant is dormant. However, we've trimmed them in midsummer and they were fine.
They don't send out runners, though the seeds remain viable for years.
There are some nice specimens at the Discovery Center in KC if you want to see how they look in a more formal, landscaped setting.
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Answer provided by:
Administrator (7/24/2018)
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Q:
What is the growth rate of the plant? If I were to plant this in mid-May, how tall and wide could I expect this to grow by the end of summer? Thanks!
Asked by:
Abby
- 5/3/2020
A:
I think it grows down more quickly than up. By the end of summer, the roots will have grown much more than the stem. Our supply of plants are 1 or 2 years old and no taller than a foot or two (5/7/20). Planted in mid-May, they might be 4 feet tall by August. They can be rather spindly in their first couple of years, but they do grow quickly and have very unique forms when mature. The Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in KC MO has several impressive specimens that are mature and have a spread of 5 feet or so and are 5 to 9? feet tall (guessing from memory).
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Administrator (5/8/2020)
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Q:
What would be some good companion plants to go around with these? I have a couple up next to the house and would like some low/lower growing surrounding them.
Asked by:
MIR
- 3/12/2021
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