False indigo bush (Amorpha fruiticosa)

​False indigo bush is a structural, fast-growing shrub that reaches 6 to 15 feet in height, characterized by its airy, fine-textured foliage and striking spikes of deep royal purple flowers with tiny, contrasting orange anthers. The blooms draw a crowd of specialized bees and skippers to its prolific floral display. This sun loving legume thrives in full sun to part shade and is a master of adaptability, flourishing in moist to wet soils while remaining remarkably tolerant of occasional drought and poor, sandy ground. Its is also a nitrogen fixer, building soil health over its life. Its historical and cultural value is significant; being used for the intense pigments in the flowers as a substitute for true indigo dye, and the tough, flexible stems to craft arrows and baskets.