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Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) is a long-lived native perennial valued for its durability, ecological benefits, and distinctive appearance. It features soft, silvery-gray foliage and upright spikes of deep purple flowers with bright orange-yellow anthers that bloom in early to mid-summer. The fine-textured leaves and compact, shrub-like form add structure and contrast to prairie plantings and sunny borders.
This warm-season native thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, particularly sandy or rocky conditions. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant due to its deep root system, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance landscapes, prairie restorations, and xeriscapes. As a member of the legume family, Leadplant fixes nitrogen in the soil, contributing to improved soil health over time.
Amorpha canescens is highly beneficial for pollinators, attracting native bees and butterflies with its nectar-rich blooms. It also serves as a host plant for select butterfly species. Reliable, resilient, and ecologically valuable, Leadplant is a strong addition to native plant gardens and large-scale meadow projects.
As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat. The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.
Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (801) 769-0300 or contact us by email or chat.
Overall rating: 3.5 / 5 from 2 reviews.
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"Planted in our new xeric garden (zone 6a) in the fall of 2023. A few leaves throughout the summer of 2024, but no blooms or anything even large enough to have supported any. It's still early spring in 2025 as I write this, but leaves and flowers are popping up all over, yet the spot where the leadplant is remains barren."
"Bloomed only a little first year. We are novice gardeners and learning as we go. We removed lawn and started xeric landscape on a sloping area impacted by extreme weather in zone 5 Colorado. Our plot of plantings has had multiple bouts of severe hail, wind, snow and harsh freezes in our xeric gardening experience of 3 years. The leadplant has endured all. It has grown well and bloomed more aggressively each year. It is very hardy and quite pretty. The fern like leaves with the spiked long flower tips are an eye catching garden accent."