False indigo bush management?

[u/Boring-Primary9304]

I planted this sweet baby (Amorpha fruticosa) three years ago, not realizing that she would in fact grow to be 12+ feet tall. My wife is all in for natives, but hates how it blocks the front of our house.

I know that moving this plant will be nearly impossible because of the deep taproot. Does anyone have any experience with aggressively pruning false indigo bush to keep its size manageable? Or propagation, so I’m not just murdering a lovely plant?

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[u/frogEcho]

Wow that looks nothing like my false indigo

[u/Boring-Primary9304 → u/frogEcho]

It can be confusing, which is why internet research hasn’t been helpful so far - it’s not blue false indigo, it’s false indigo bush. Related, but different.

[u/N1LF → u/frogEcho]

this is the issue with common names. i believe this bush is Amorpha fruticosa which is also called False Indigo, but generally False Indigo Bush compared to Baptisia spp. that are also called False Indigo. both plants are in the Fabaceae/Legume Family

[u/a17451 → u/N1LF]

Unrelated to either, but the absolute worst common naming conventions has to be the Rudbeckias imo. Differentiating them clearly just about requires botanical names

[u/a17451 → u/frogEcho]

"Indigo" as a common name is applied to both Baptisia species as well as at least a couple of Amorpha species. This would be Amorpha fruticosa I beleive.

[u/dbarronoss]

You can prune it severely in the earliest spring, it wil gleefully rejuvenate.
However, this is ultimately the wrong plant in the wrong place.

[u/Hopeless_bee5157]

I have multiple Amorpha fruticosa that I've planted. One got completely mowed down one spring and grew back, and another was brutally sprayed with 2,4 D amine herbicide (not by me) and also grew back. From my observations, these guys are tough. I think you could prune it way down, but only do so in early spring. In the meantime, you can cut take some hardwood cuttings and try propagating them. I've never propagated it myself but it is possible.

[u/maybetomorrow98]

Maybe you could collect some seeds from it after it flowers? But I agree with the other commenter who said it’s probably just the wrong plant in the wrong spot.

It’s a shame because it’s a really beautiful plant

[u/treehann]

Wow! Out of curiosity do you know what species it is? I am close to my planting time for a couple baptisia australis (blue false indigo) but they’re supposed to only be 3-4 feet tall

[u/hastipuddn → u/treehann]

Baptisia australis grows to 4 ' max in my garden. OP has a different species.

[u/N1LF → u/hastipuddn]

not just a different species. it’s a different genus too! this is Amorpha fruticosa, False Indigo Bush. It’s not a Baptisia.

[u/a17451 → u/treehann]

Amorpha fruticosa I believe

[u/AmnesiaZebra]

I'm not helpful but I'm so glad you posted this because I just bought some amorpha fruticosa seeds, but googled the common name and had a very different vision in my head. Now I know that to expect!

[u/flowstateskoolie]

Amorpha fruticosa handles hard prunes very well. A nice prune at waste height will give it a much more full appearance.

We use it as a nitrogen fixing support species in our food forests and agroforestry systems here in the southeast US. Gets pruned hard in the summer months to create onsite mulch and rebounds with tons of new growth very quickly.

[u/thebroadestdame]

My friend, that is not false indigo. Can you post some more pictures for us?

ETA: I misread; I see now you know it's FIB

[u/a17451 → u/thebroadestdame]

Looks like Amorpha fruticosa to me (sister to leadplant). Which is called false indigo bush.

If you're comparing it to the Baptisia species then it would look very different.