Monday, October 12, 2009

From Denim Dye To Beautiful Flowers-The Indigo Bush is one we all profit from

False Indigobush




The False Indigobush is also called Bastard Indigo, Indigo-bush Amorpha and Indigo-bush. Its scientific name is Amorpha fruticosa. This deciduous plant practically grows almost all over the United States, and the plant's growing region extends from Minnesota and New Jersey in the north to almost upto the border of Mexico in the south. It is mainly found in the prairie regions where there is moisture, like alongside rivers and streams.



Appearance



False Indigobush is a shrub that can grow up to a maximum height of twelve feet. The major part of the foliage is on the upper section of the shrub, making it look like an open canopy, and its spread is about 5 feet. It has multiple branches and appears quite dense. The leaves of the False Indigobush are pinnately compound, each measuring about 6 inches, appearing alternatively. There are about 11 to 27 individual leaflets, in the compound leaf, measuring around two inches in length and having a width of one inch. The shape of the leaflet is more oval and has a tip which is rounded, having a bristly point. The glaborous twigs on this shrub are rigid and are reddish brown in color and also gray.



Flowers and Fruits



The flowers of the False Indigobush are tiny, growing in clusters on spikes which appear at the end of branchlets and are about 3 to 6 inches in length. These flowers range from shades of purple to a dark blue, whose stamens are yellow in color. The flower has a single petal and the stamens extends past this petal. Flowers bloom from the later part of spring to middle of summer. The fruit of this plant is a pod about three quarters of an inch long and shaped like a water kidney. When you magnify the fruit, you can see glands, which are like blisters.



Uses



The False Indigobush can provide excellent cover in uplands and also reduce erosion of the soil along streams and jagged shorelines. The shrub spread quickly and is able to provide good cover. False Indigobush is also an excellent food source for the wild life present in the area, and provides an excellent cover for Quails. These shrubs are also planted to provide cover and enhance areas of the riparian wetlands. Some people also prefer it in their garden corners as it can be pruned to the required shape and it also provides a canopy.



Cultivation



False Indigobush requires a moist soil, even if is poorly drained. The plant is also known to tolerate quite a bit of drought-like conditions, but will have to be deeply irrigated in months which are dry. The propagation can be through seeds which can be left to dry on the plant itself and then collected. The plant will require a good amount of sun but does well in partial shade as well. The plants are to be spaced at a distance of at least 12 to 15 feet, for them to fully flourish. The plant can become invasive if not checked, and will form thickets.

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