Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Sun

Soil Moisture: Medium, Medium-Dry, Dry

Soil Type: Sand, Loam, Clay, Gravely

Height: 3 feet

Spread: 2 foot

Blooms: June, July, August

Root: Taproot

Habitat: Prairies, Limestone glades, and Black Oak savannas. The presence of Leadplant is a sign of high quality habitat.

Landscape uses: Pollinator gardens, Drought tolerant, Fixes nitrogen in soil

Complimentary Plants: Butterfly Milkweed, Slender Mountain Mint, Little Bluestem, Black-eyed Susan

Wildlife Value: The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract many kinds of insects, including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, wasps, broad-headed bugs, leaf beetles, larvae of moths and leafhoppers. Many of these insects, especially grasshoppers, are an important source of food to insectivorous birds and other animals. Host Plant: Dogface Sulphur Butterfly

Seed Origin: Winona, MN (Prairie Moon seed supplier)

Germination Code: C(10)

Photo credits: #1 by USFWS Mountain-Prairie, #2 by K aty Chayka, #3 by Peter M. Dziuk

Amorpha canescens - Lead Plant

CA$6.00

Size

Quantity

Comming Soon

Lead Plant is a great legume plant species that sends up bright purple blooms with large orange stamens in early summer. The delicate looking foliage adds great texture to the garden. This plant takes several years to mature, but it's worth the wait! Mammalian herbivores, such as deer, rabbits, and livestock, are very fond of this plant. It is high in protein and quite palatable. This can make Leadplant difficult to establish in areas where these animals are abundant. It is recommended to put a wire fence or cage around young plant in the establisment period to protect from rabbits and other herbivores. This plant is very robust when mature - its root can extend 15 feet into the soil. It is a true Prairie plant and can survive fire and drought.