Amorpha fruticosa

Desert indigobush

Family: Fabaceae · Type: shrub · Native

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.

Habitat: Streambanks, canyons

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: < 1200 m

Bioregions: ScV, c&amps SCo, SnBr, PR, ne DSon

California counties: San Diego, Butte, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Monterey, Sutter, Los Angeles

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.