Dwarf Leadplant

Dwarf Leadplant (Amorpha nana) Zones 3-7

By Marilyn Raff

Native to The Great Plains, this small shrub called to me at a plant sale with its unusual name, unique appearance, and suitability for a challenging spot. I’m always thrilled in late spring when small whiteish-green buds emerge against its fine-textured mound of leaves in my sunny rock garden. Soon after, leadplant will produce dozens of purple spires a few inches long, and tinted nearly orange. The showy, honey-scented flowers are loved by bees and butterflies. As summer progresses and nearby perennial flowers fade and look unkempt, this bushy specimen stays packed with pliable, healthy greenery for months. Just before snow arrives in the more northern parts of our region, the thin leaves turn an attractive yellow.