Amorpha fruticosa
Desert indigobush
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Amorpha fruticosa (Desert indigobush) is a native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by non-glandular leaf axis, awn-like leaflet glands, and multiple inflorescences.
Desert indigobush is a California native shrub found in the central Coast Ranges, southern California, San Bernardino Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and northeastern Sonoran Desert in streambanks and canyon habitats at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces purple flowers in dense terminal clusters with distinctive elongated shapes. Growing to 1 to 3 meters tall with multiple ascending or spreading branches, it forms a robust and somewhat open shrub structure. Its compound leaves are notable for leaflets with midribs ending in tiny 0.5 to 1.5 millimeter gland-like awns, creating a delicate textural appearance. Multiple flower clusters typically emerge from each stem tip, giving the plant a rich, clustered flowering character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are non-glandular leaf axis, awn-like leaflet glands, and multiple inflorescences
Habitat and range
Habitat: Streambanks, canyons
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: San Diego, Butte, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Monterey, Sutter, Los Angeles
Outside California: United States, eastern Canada, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Amorpha fruticosa blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Dalea: Amorpha flowers reduce to a single purple banner petal (no wings or keel) and its leaflets are gland-dotted; Dalea flowers retain more petal parts and it is generally a low herb or subshrub.; vs Astragalus: Amorpha is a woody shrub with erect spike-like clusters of 1-petaled flowers; Astragalus is an herb with normal banner-wing-keel pea flowers and an inflated or grooved pod.; vs Robinia: Amorpha bears dense erect spikes of tiny 1-petaled purple flowers and unarmed stems; black locust (Robinia) has drooping racemes of large white pea flowers and paired spines.; vs Colutea: Amorpha has narrow flower spikes and tiny 1--2-seeded gland-dotted pods; Colutea (bladder senna) has yellow pea flowers and large inflated papery pods.; vs Glycyrrhiza: Amorpha leaflets bear head-like glands and flowers keep only one petal; Glycyrrhiza has normal pea flowers and bur-like prickly pods.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amorpha fruticosa native to California?
Yes. Amorpha fruticosa is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Amorpha fruticosa bloom?
Amorpha fruticosa blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Amorpha fruticosa grow?
Amorpha fruticosa occurs in San Diego, Butte, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Monterey, Sutter, Los Angeles, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Amorpha fruticosa belong to?
Amorpha fruticosa is in the Fabaceae family, genus Amorpha.
What habitat does Amorpha fruticosa grow in?
Amorpha fruticosa grows in Streambanks, canyons.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Amorpha sp. — False indigo
- Amorpha californica — California false indigo
- Amorpha californica var. californica — California false indigo
- Amorpha californica var. napensis — Napa false indigo
- Astragalus accidens var. hendersonii — Henderson's milkvetch
- Astragalus acutirostris — Beaked rattle weed
- Astragalus agnicidus — Humboldt county milkvetch
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.