Overview & Description

The Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens) is a small, hardy deciduous shrub from the pea family, prized for its unique texture and summer blooms. Its pinnately compound leaves feature small, silvery-green to gray-green leaflets, giving the plant a soft, feathery appearance. In early to late summer, it produces upright spikes of tiny, clustered purple-blue flowers with prominent golden anthers, creating a striking, delicate display that attracts pollinators. The plant has a somewhat open, less dense form, adding a naturalistic charm to the landscape.

Growth & Size

This variety exhibits an upright, bushy, and somewhat open growth habit. It is a slow to moderate-growing shrub, typically reaching a mature size of about 12-36 inches in height with a spread of 24-30 inches.

Additional Notes

It blooms from early to late summer. Exceptionally hardy to Zone 2, it is tolerant of most soil conditions, including poor and dry soils, and is drought-tolerant once established. It thrives in full sun. An outstanding choice for prairie gardens, xeriscapes, native plantings, or as a textural accent where its unique flowers, silvery foliage, and resilience are desired.