Fragrant false indigo
Amorpha nana
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Fragrant false indigo (Amorpha nana) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–24" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
May, Jun
Native to
CO, IA, ID, KS and 6 more states
Pollinators
bumble bees, native bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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A low, mounding deciduous shrub with fine compound leaves, native to open prairie sites. Short spikes of purple flowers with prominent orange anthers rise just above the foliage in late spring.
Wildlife value
The flower spikes are heavily visited by bumble bees and other native bees for both pollen and nectar.
Common questions
- How much sun does Fragrant false indigo need?
- Fragrant false indigo grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Fragrant false indigo bloom?
- Fragrant false indigo blooms in May and June.
- Where is Fragrant false indigo native?
- Fragrant false indigo (Amorpha nana) is native to CO, IA, ID, KS and 6 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Fragrant false indigo attract?
- Fragrant false indigo draws bumble bees and native bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Fragrant false indigo? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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