Lead plant

Amorpha canescens

Rhizomatous, native perennial subshrub legume with distinctive purple and orange flowers, blooming June to September. Drought tolerant, preferring well-drained to dry soils of mildly acidic to alkaline soils in open woodlands, prairies, dry plains and sand dunes; up to 8,000 ft. elevation. Slow-growing; not competitive with grasses. Important species within Great Plains communities of Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), Sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii), Prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) and Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis). Responds well after wildfire. Very palatable to ungulates but intolerant of repeated grazing. Attractive to bees and other pollinator species as a food source; especially nectar-feeding solitary bees.