Amorpha californica var. californica
California false indigo
Family: Fabaceae · Type: shrub · Native
California false indigo is a California native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, northern Sierra Nevada foothills, Sacramento Valley, southern Coast Ranges, southern California, Transverse Ranges, and northern and eastern Peninsular Ranges in wooded, shrubby, or open slopes at elevations below 2,300 meters. Flowering from May to July, this shrub produces purple flowers with a distinctive pattern. Growing up to 2 to 3 meters tall with multiple woody stems, it forms a dense, spreading structure with rough, hairy branches. Its compound leaves are pinnately arranged with numerous leaflets, creating a soft, textured appearance. The shrub's delicate purple flowers and hairy stems make it a notable feature in its native woodland habitats.
Habitat: Wooded, shrubby, or open slopes
Bloom period: May-Jul
Elevation: < 2300 m
Bioregions: KR, NCoRI, n SNF, ScV, SCoR, SCo, TR, n&e PR.
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Yolo, Orange, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Monterey, El Dorado, Placer, Sonoma, Trinity, Shasta, Sutter, Nevada, San Diego
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.