•Status in Florida: Native
•Size at Maturity: Typically grows 6 to 12 feet tall, with a spread of 6 to 10 feet.
•Phenology: False Indigo is a deciduous shrub with compound leaves and spikes of small, purple flowers. After flowering, it produces elongated pods containing seeds.
•Life Cycle: Perennial
•Bloom Season: False Indigo typically blooms in late spring to early summer.
•Deciduous, Dioecious, Evergreen: Deciduous
•Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
•Soil Texture: Well-drained sandy or loamy soils
•Soil pH: Tolerant of a wide range of soil pH levels, but prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 6.0-7.5)
•Moisture Requirements: False Indigo prefers moist to moderately dry soil, but can tolerate periods of drought once established.
•Tolerance to Salt Spray: Low tolerance
•Recommended Landscape Uses: Suitable for naturalistic landscapes, wildflower gardens, and wildlife habitats. Provides nectar for pollinators and serves as a host plant for various butterfly species.
•Maintenance Tips: False Indigo is relatively low-maintenance and requires little pruning. Pruning may be done in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches and encourage bushier growth.
•Considerations: False Indigo can spread by seeds and suckering, potentially forming dense thickets in the landscape. Consider planting in areas where naturalization is desired or be prepared to manage spreading if necessary.
•Edible: False Indigo is not commonly consumed as a food source.
•Medicinal Uses: False Indigo has limited documented medicinal uses, but some indigenous cultures used certain species of Amorpha for various medicinal purposes.
•Toxicity to Pets: False Indigo is not known to be toxic to pets.
•Florida Native Companion Plant: False Indigo pairs well with other native shrubs and wildflowers, such as beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) and butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa).
•Wildlife Benefit: False Indigo flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The foliage serves as a host plant for caterpillars of various butterfly species, such as Silver-spotted skipper, Southern dogface and Gray hairstreak butterflies. Birds and other small animals consume its fruit.
