About
Amorpha fruticosa is a robust deciduous shrub that tends to spread outwards. Its foliage consists of as many as 30 oval leaflets. The plant produces slender flower clusters, reaching lengths of up to 15 cm, adorned with deep purple blooms featuring orange anthers.
About the genus
Amorpha consists of deciduous shrubs characterized by their pinnate foliage and clusters of small, single-petaled flowers that bloom in shades of deep purple or blue during the summer months.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- West-facing, East-facing, South-facing, North-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Native to
- S USA
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grows well in light sandy soil and can survive in very poor soils. Tolerant of extreme cold
- Pruning
- Pruning group 6
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed in autumn. Seed must be scarified as they have hard seed coats. Use sandpaper or a file to scarify (abrade) the seed coat. Chit the seed either by using a knife to nick the seed coat or by soaking the seed in warm water for 24 hours. Care should be taken when soaking seed, as too much can cause rotting. Sow at any time of year 2mm deep in moist, free-draining, quality seed compost. Propagate at 10-15C in a greenhouse, on a windowsill or in a coldframe outdoors in spring. Germination should take place in 30-120 days
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- A rust may occur (N. America only)