A.k.a. downy false indigo and prairie shoestring. A small, purple blooming shrub for those hard to fill dry sites! Slow to establish as they put down an extensive taproot, but fix nitrogen in the soil and have a blue/gray leaf color that lends texture to plantings. Perfect to pair with New Jersey Tea!

Pollination: Likely self pollinating.

Light: Full Sun

Soil Moisture: Mesic, Dry Mesic, Dry

Soil Type: Adaptable 

Height: 1’-3’

Width: 1’-3’

Bloom Color: Purple

Bloom Time: Jul-Sep

Fruit: Seeds mature in late fall; one seed per fuzzy capsule. 

Fall Color: Yellow, Brown

Root Type: Taproot

Notable Wildlife Interactions: Flowers attract mainly bees and wasps. Hosts a few moths, grasshoppers, leafhoppers, and some smaller insects. Foliage is favored by herbivores and may need protection from browsing.

Notes: The taproot is incredibly extensive (15’ long), which makes for good fire resistance. Was once believed to indicate the presence of lead in the soil, though there is no support for this.