Plant Details

Amorpha fruticosa

False indigo

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Common names

48 names · 30 languages
EnglishYour language
  • bastard false indigo[1]
  • desert false indigo[1]
  • False indigo
+2 more namesShow fewer names
  • false indigo bush[1]
  • tall indigo bush[1]
Other languages (29)
Dutch
  • Amerikaanse indigostruik
  • Bastaardindigo
  • Valse indigo[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Valse indigostruik
French
  • Amorphe buissonnante
  • Buisson à indigo[1]
  • faux-indigo commun[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Faux-indigo du désert[1]
Arabic
  • ناقصة شجيرية[1]
Armenian
  • Ամորֆա թփային[1]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Czech
  • netvařec křovitý[1]
Danish
Estonian
  • harilik amorfa[1]
  • harilik kaunpõõsas[1]
Finnish
  • huiskusulkapensas[1]
German
  • Bastardindigo[1]
  • Bleibusch[1]
  • Falscher Indigo[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Scheinindigo[1]
Hebrew
  • אמורפה שיחית[1]
Hungarian
  • cserjés gyalogakác[1]
  • gyalogakác[1]
Italian
  • Amorfa fruticosa[1]
  • Falso indaco[1]
  • Indaco bastardo[1]
Japanese
  • イタチハギ[1]
Korean
  • 족제비싸리[1]
Lithuanian
  • Krūminė amorfa[1]
Polish
  • Amorfa krzewiasta[1]
Portuguese
  • Índigo-bastardo[1]
Romanian
Russian
  • Аморфа кустарниковая[1]
Serbian
  • Багренац[1]
Slovak
  • beztvarec krovitý[1]
Slovenian
  • navadna amorfa[1]
Spanish
  • Falso índigo[1]
Swedish
  • segelbuske[1]
Turkish
  • Çivit Ağacı[1]
Ukrainian
  • Крутик кущовий[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Amorpha fruticosa — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • false indigo bush — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • desert false indigo — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Índigo-bastardo — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • faux-indigo commun — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Amorfa fruticosa — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • イタチハギ — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • 족제비싸리 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • netvařec křovitý — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • 紫穗槐 — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • bastard false indigo — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Аморфа кустарниковая — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • ناقصة شجيرية — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Amorfa krzewiasta — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Falso indaco — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • harilik kaunpõõsas — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • harilik amorfa — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • amorfa — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Valse indigo — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Ամորֆա թփային — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Særkrone — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • segelbuske — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Amorfă — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Salcâm pitic — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Крутик кущовий — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Falso índigo — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Krūminė amorfa — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • 紫穗槐 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • navadna amorfa — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • gyalogakác — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • cserjés gyalogakác — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Faux-indigo du désert — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Buisson à indigo — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Bastardindigo — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Scheinindigo — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Bleibusch — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Falscher Indigo — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Indaco bastardo — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • huiskusulkapensas — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • tall indigo bush — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • אמורפה שיחית — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • beztvarec krovitý — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Багренац — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.
  • Çivit Ağacı — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 57356; Amorpha fruticosa.

General information

Scientific name: Amorpha fruticosa
Accepted name (Kew): Amorpha fruticosa L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Amorpha (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: False indigo
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 1.22–4.57 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 1.83–4.57 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: Deciduous
Sources [2]
Growth habit: Dense, Horizontal, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun, Partial Shade
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Condiment, Oil
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer, Dye, Insecticide, Oil, Repellent, Windbreak, Carbon farming, Fragrant

Description

The damaged fruits are used as a spice. Here it is meant that the damaged fruits can be used as a spice.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/09
Harvest ends: 31/10

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 714926; name ID 2634116; Amorpha L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 103149; name ID 2634148; Amorpha fruticosa L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Amorpha fruticosa — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateFoliageGrowth habitLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .