Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

cluster-spike indigo-bush

Synonym(s):

Amorpha herbacea var. herbacea

Genus species:

Amorpha herbacea

Family:

Fabaceae (Leguminosae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

shrub

Size:

3-4 ft tall by 3-4 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white,lavender

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms spring-summer.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Can be used as a specimen plant in a sunny spot or as a moderately tall wildflower.

Considerations:

Availability:

Seed

Propagation:

Seed, cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

-|------|--- <---------------------------> ---|----|-

Not wet but not extremely dry ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8B,9A,9B,10A

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars

Larval host for silver spotted skipper ( Epargyreus clarus ) and southern dogface ( Zerene cesonia ) butterflies.





Attracts butterflies and pollinators, especially native bees.

Native Habitats:

Pine rocklands and in marl prairies (trasverse glades).

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

A second subspecies, Amorpha herbacea subsp. crenulata is Endemic to Dade County.  Considered to by Endangered by the State of Florida and by the USFWS.