False Indigo - Amorpha fruticosa  - €6 per plant

The False indigo gets its name from the fact that it contains some indigo pigment and can be used to make a blue dye. A hardy nitrogen fixing shrub that grows well in moist naturalized areas or areas with poor soils.  It is often used very effectively in erosion control, windbreaks and screens and has insect repellent properties .  It boasts very attractive foliage and flowers, and can tolerate temperatures as low as -25. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: Southern N. America
  • native habitat: River banks, rich moist thickets. Likes limestone soils
  • family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae

Predators

  • No serious insect or disease problems.

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Semi Shade- Full Sun
  • soil pH:  acid-neutral -basic alkaline  
  • Hardiness Zone: 4
  • The plant can tolerate strong winds
  • It can tolerate drought

Known hazards 


  • The plant is said to contain alkaloids and be poisonous to livestock

Overview

  • 80 cm - 1 m tall sapling  
  • Deciduous Shrub growing to 4.5m at a medium rate. Its width often exceeds its height
  • It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. 
  • It is in flower in May - June, seeds ripen in July - August The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs).
  • The plant is not self-fertile. 
  • It can fix Nitrogen. 
  • The plant can tolerate wind and would be a good choice for windbreak
  • Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy), prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. 
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils.
  • It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or full sun. 
  • It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. 
  • Cannot tolerate maritime exposure

Characteristics

  • form: Deciduous Shrub   
  • layer : Shrub Layer
  • habit: multi stemmed, 
  • height x width (m): 4.5

Products 

  • Compound, odd-pinnate leaves that look attractive
  • Tubular vanilla scented flowers bloom in May-June in long, dense, spike-shaped clusters with protruding stamens that have stunning orange-yellow anthers.
  • Extensive root system meaning the plant is a good choice to prevent soil erosion. Plants should be placed in their final positions while young as they don't like disturbance.  
  • Fixes atmospheric nitrogen, some of which may be harvested by neighbouring plants.


Functions, behaviours


  • This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen
  • A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25c
  • May spread by self-seeding and/or suckers to form thickets.
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If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project