Common Name: False Indigo Bush, False Indigo

Full to part sun; moderately wet to moderately dry moisture level; adaptable to most soils including clay; strongly acid to moderately alkaline pH.

6-10 feet height by 5-15 feet spread; blooms in spring; purple to dark blue flowers; small, warty, kidney-shaped pods.

Growth Rate:  Fast

Maintenance:  Prune in late winter or early spring to keep plant looking somewhat neat.

Propagation:  Germination code C(10).  Easy from seed.  Seed has an impenetrable coat.  Mechanically nick the seed or scarify in concentrated sulfuric acid for 5-8 minutes.

Native Region:  Scattered statewide

Loose, airy shrub that often forms dense thickets by suckering and re-seeding.  Can be weedy and invasive.  Attracts bees and butterflies and is larval host to some skippers and hairstreaks; special value to native bees.  Seeds eaten by northern bobwhite.  Cultivars are available but not commonly found.