Other common names:
Desert False Indigo, Indigobush, River Locust, Shrubby False Indigo French names:
Indigo batard Family: Legume Family (Fabaceae) Distinctive features: Shrub; Compound leaf, oval leaflets. Spikes of purple flowers. Similar species:
Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) - a tree. Flowers: Summer; Blue/Violet; Irregular flowers; Purple spikes. Leaves: Alternate, Compound, Entire; Compound, alternate.Oval leaflets. Habitat: Fields and Open Areas; Open fields. Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 106 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Extremely Rare in Ontario - only found natively growing at one site - see the sign below; planted elsewhere.
For more information visit: Ontario Trees and Shrubs Photographs:
20 photographs available, of which 7 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Range Map is at the bottom of the page
False Indigo purple flower spikes, in July.
A closer view.
Closeup of the flowers.
Upper side of a compound leaf. Note the ovalish leaflets.
A whole False Indigo shrub.
The specimen featured on this page is growing at the University of Guelph Arboretum. This sign is in front of the shrub.
PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.
(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website
and is displayed here in accordance with their
Policies)