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California false indigo
Scientific Name: Amorpha californica
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
California False Indigo: A Botanical Profile
The California False Indigo, scientifically known as Amorpha californica, is a captivating shrub native to the western United States. It belongs to the Fabaceae (Legume) family and is also referred to as False Indigo and Mock Locust.
Considerations for Pets
- This plant is a shrub, which can grow up to 6-10 feet and sometimes form dense thickets. This may be important to consider for your pets size when allowing interaction with this plant.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Amorpha californica
- Common Names: California False Indigo, False Indigo, Mock Locust, Desert False Indigo, Indigo Bush
- Family: Fabaceae (Legume family)
- Synonyms: Amorpha californica Nutt. var. californica, Amphora fruticosa (Note that some sources use this name for Desert False Indigo.)
Distribution and Habitat
- The California False Indigo is native to California and is considered endemic (limited) to California.
- It is also found in Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Mexico.
- It thrives in California forests and chaparral regions, at elevations ranging from 0 to 7,500 feet.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Amorpha californica is described as an aromatic shrub, typically growing to about six feet tall.
- It can reach heights of 3 to 5 meters.
- It is a loose, airy shrub that often forms dense thickets.
- It is known to have big purple flowers with orange stamen in May.
- It is fast growing
- Some descriptions say that the California false indigo seems like a tree that never quite escapes the sapling stage.
Ecological Role and Interactions
- This shrub serves as a larval host plant for several butterfly species, including the California dogface butterfly and the Silver-spotted Skipper.
- It is a food source for the California Dogface butterfly.
- It's a "medium" native nitrogen fixer.
Quirky Facts
- The common name, blue false indigo, was derived from its historical use as a substitute for true indigo (Indigofera) as a dye.
Additional Information
- Seeds of Amorpha californica do not have dormancy and sprout within 2-3 weeks after planting.
Further Resources
- California Flora Native Plant Nursery
- Discover Life's page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution of Amorpha californica