Amorpha canescens.
Lead Plant is a perennial wildflower native to the central United States where it can often be found growing in open woodlands, glades, and prairies.
Plant grows to around 3 feet in height and produces spikes of tiny purple flowers that bloom from June through August.
Attracts bees, butterflies, beetles, and other beneficial pollinators, and is the host plant for the larvae of the Southern Dogface butterfly.
Its deep root system, which can grow 15 feet down into the earth, makes the Lead Plant extremely drought tolerant once established. Early American pioneers even nicknamed it the 'Devil's Shoestrings' because the tough roots made plowing difficult!
Typically blooms in the second or third year.
Lead Plant
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8 Light Requirement: Full to partial sun Soil Type: Dry, sandy, rocky Sow Depth: 1/8 inch Plant Spacing: 12 to 24 inches Germination Note: Cold stratification required Stratification Time: 30 days Bloom Time: June through August Growing Tips
Direct sow in late fall. Before sowing, be sure to scarify the seeds by soaking them in 180 degrees F water overnight.
For spring sowing, mix the seeds with moist sand and store in the refrigerator for 30 days (cold stratification). After stratification, soak the seeds overnight and direct sow after the last frost.
To start indoors, scarify and stratify the seeds as noted above, then sow the seeds just below the soil's surface. Keep soil moist and at a temperature of 70 degrees F. Germination should take place within 20 to 30 days.
A Note on Cold Stratification
These seeds require cold, moist stratification. To naturally stratify the seeds, plant outdoors late fall on a weed-free site and allow seeds to overwinter.
To artificially stratify the seeds, place the seeds and a moist medium (such as a damp paper towel, coffee filter, sand, or vermiculite) in a labeled, sealed plastic bag and store in a refrigerator (33-40°F) for the amount of time noted on the growth chart before sowing.