Taxon: Amorpha fruticosa L.

Summary

Genus:

Amorpha

Family:

Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)

Subfamily:

Faboideae

Tribe:

Amorpheae

Nomen number:

2937

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 2:713. 1753

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

02/12/1988 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

57 (35 active, 22 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Autonym(s)
Amorpha fruticosa L. f. fruticosa
Amorpha fruticosa L. var. fruticosa

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Amorpha elata Hayne
Amorpha fragrans Sweet
Amorpha fruticosa L. f. crispa (G. Kirchn.) C. K. Schneid.
Amorpha fruticosa L. var. angustifolia Pursh
Amorpha fruticosa L. var. crispa G. Kirchn.
Amorpha fruticosa L. var. tennesseensis (Shuttlew. ex Kunze) E. J. Palmer
Amorpha tennessensis Shuttlew. ex Kunze
Amorpha virgata Small

Images (2 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Burkart, A. E., ed. 1969-. Flora ilustrada de Entre Rios.
Chester, E. W. et al. 1993-1997. Atlas of Tennessee vascular plants.
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora.
Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
Hoang, H.-D. et al. 1997. Additional notes to the checklist of Korean cultivated plants (5). Consolidated summary and indexes. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 44:354.
Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
Lee, Y. N. 1997. Flora of Korea.
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York.
McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1977. Atlas of the Flora of the Great Plains.
Mohlenbrock, R. H. 1975. Guide to the vascular flora of Illinois.
Mun-Chan, B. et al. 1986. A checklist of the Korean cultivated plants. Kulturpflanze 34:77.
Office of the Union. 2009. UPOV: International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. List of the taxa protected by the members of the Union
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
Rhoads, A. F. & W. M. Klein, Jr. 1993. The vascular flora of Pennsylvannia. Annotated checklist and atlas. Note: American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia

Common names

Language	Name	Alternate name	seq	Citation
English	bastard indigo-bush		1	Wunderlin, R. P. 1998. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida
English	bastard-indigo		1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	false indigo		1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
English	indigo-bush		1	Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Chinese	zi sui huai	紫穗槐	2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
French	faux indigo		2	Office of the Union. 2009. UPOV: International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. List of the taxa protected by the members of the Union
German	Bastardindigo		2	Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
Spanish	falso índigo		2	Office of the Union. 2009. UPOV: International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. List of the taxa protected by the members of the Union
Swedish	segelbuske		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Korean	jogjebissari		2	Lee, Y. N. 1997. Flora of Korea.
Transcribed Korean	waessalinamu		2	Hoang, H.-D. et al. 1997. Additional notes to the checklist of Korean cultivated plants (5). Consolidated summary and indexes. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 44:354.

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine	s.	Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan	s.	Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Baja California (Norte)		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Chihuahua		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sonora		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Colorado		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Wyoming	e.	Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Arizona		Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	California	s.w.	Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba	s.e.	Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
2	Cultivated					also cult.
4	Naturalized	Africa	Western Indian Ocean	Mauritius			International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Caucasus	Azerbaijan			International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	China	China			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Eastern Asia	Korea			Mun-Chan, B. et al. 1986. A checklist of the Korean cultivated plants. Kulturpflanze 34:77.
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Kazakhstan			Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Kyrgyzstan			Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Tajikistan			Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Turkmenistan			Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Middle Asia	Uzbekistan			Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Russian Far East	Russian Federation	Primorye		International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Siberia	Russian Federation	Kurganskaja oblast'		International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Temperate	Western Asia	Iraq			International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	India			International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Asia-Tropical	Indian Subcontinent	Pakistan			International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Europe		Europe			Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
4	Naturalized	Europe	Eastern Europe	Russian Federation-European part	European part		International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
4	Naturalized	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Idaho	s.w.	Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora.
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina		n.	Burkart, A. E., ed. 1969-. Flora ilustrada de Entre Rios.

Native
Northern America

WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Manitoba (s.e.)]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Connecticut, Indiana, Maine (s.), Massachusetts, Michigan (s.), New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado, Wyoming (e.)]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, California (s.w.)]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chihuahua, Sonora, Baja California (Norte)]

Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa

WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN: Mauritius

Asia-Temperate

WESTERN ASIA: Iraq
CAUCASUS: Azerbaijan
SIBERIA: Russian Federation [Kurganskaja oblast']
MIDDLE ASIA: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
RUSSIAN FAR EAST: Russian Federation [Primorye]
CHINA: China
EASTERN ASIA: Korea

Asia-Tropical

INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: India, Pakistan

Europe

EASTERN EUROPE: Russian Federation-European part [European part]
REGION: Europe

Northern America

NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Idaho (s.w.)]

Southern America

SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina (n.)

Reference(s)

Burkart, A. E., ed. 1969-. Flora ilustrada de Entre Rios.
Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora.
Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
International Legume Database & Information Service. International Legume Database and Information Service (on-line resource).
Mun-Chan, B. et al. 1986. A checklist of the Korean cultivated plants. Kulturpflanze 34:77.
Wilbur, R. L. 1975. A revision of the North American genus Amorpha (Leguminosae-Psoraleae). Rhodora 77:397.
Yakovlev, G. P. et al. 1996. Legumes of Northern Eurasia

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Reference
Environmental	ornamental	Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Environmental	ornamental	Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Weed		Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=2937. Accessed 17 April 2026.