Leadplant, Leadplant Amorpha, Prairie Shoestring
Native to North America, Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant) is a lovely rounded deciduous shrub with small, grayish green, aromatic, feathery leaves and spikes of tiny, bluish-purple flowers with gold anthers. Blooming for 3 weeks in late spring to early summer, the flower spikes to 4 in. long (10 cm) are rich in nectar and attract bees, butterflies, moths and other beneficial insects. The pinnately compound foliage is covered with short, dense hairs, giving the plant a silver-gray appearance. Lead Plant frequently dies down to the ground in the winter, resprouting from the base in the following spring. Its roots are very deep and can grow more than 15 ft (450 cm) into the ground, making it very well adapted to surviving fires and drought. Tough and undemanding, Lead Plant withstands heat, drought, and wind. It is a good plant for borders, meadows, and wildflower gardens. It can also be used as a windbreak and to prevent soil erosion.
| Hardiness |
2 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Plant Type | Perennials, Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Leguminosae |
| Common names | Leadplant |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early) |
| Height |
2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spread |
2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spacing | 36" (90cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rocky Mountains, South Dakota, Southeast, Southwest, Texas, United States, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
| Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
| Hardiness |
2 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 8 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Plant Type | Perennials, Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Leguminosae |
| Common names | Leadplant |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early) |
| Height |
2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spread |
2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm) |
| Spacing | 36" (90cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Midwest, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rocky Mountains, South Dakota, Southeast, Southwest, Texas, United States, Wisconsin, Wyoming |
| Tolerance | Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies |
| Garden Uses | Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |
How many Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Amorpha canescens (Lead Plant) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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