Amorpha canescens, Leadplant


Leadplant flowers near the end of bloom at Branson State Park.

A classic prairie species, Leadplant offers stunning purple and orange blooms on a smallish, grey-green shrub that is tough as nails once it settles in. Drought means nothing to this pollinator magnet. It is slow to start, so several year old plants will not be large. Plant with Butterflyweed, Prairie Phlox, Little Bluestem, Side-oats Grama, Prairie Dropseed, Junegrass, Stiff Goldenrod, Sky Blue Aster, Silky Prairie Clover and more.

Blooms: purple with gold, late June into late August
 
Height: 2 to 3 feet
 
Conditions: full to part sun, medium to dry soils