Leadplant
(Amorhpa canescens)

Leadplant is popular for reclamation and wildlife plantings. It is a shrub-like plant with silvery hairs and purple flower spikes at the ends of the branches. It is a nitrogen fixer that can thrive in many types of soils. The roots can grow up to 15 feet deep, making it very drought tolerant. Butterflies and native bees are common visitors to its flowers, and it is the larval host to the Southern Dogface Butterfly. Seed usually has dormancy – cold stratify 60 days or sow in late fall.