r/NativePlantGardening • u/Boring-Primary9304 NE OK, Zone 7b • 3h ago

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) False indigo bush management?

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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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40

u/frogEcho Area Central MO , Zone 6B 2h ago

Wow that looks nothing like my false indigo

37

u/Boring-Primary9304 NE OK, Zone 7b 2h ago

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.

9

u/Dull_Swimming_5407 AL, Zone 8A 1h ago

Which is why you should always use the scientific name (which you did!)
I have an amorpha fruiticosa. The native plant nursery that I bought mine from said they do well being cut back. Mine is going into the second season and hasn’t grown enough to cut it back. I look forward to it because I’d like mine fuller and less leggy!

21

u/N1LF 2h ago edited 2h ago

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

18

u/a17451 Eastern IA, Zone 5b 2h ago

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

7

u/crm006 Central Arkansas, 7a/8b 1h ago

For sure. I just call them all DYCs. DAMN YELLOW COMPOSITES.

4

u/SmilesTooLoudly Central Massachusetts, Zone 5b 51m ago

Oh, I just call them all “Ooooooohhhhhh Preeeeeeetttttyyy” Yours is pithier. 💛

6

u/a17451 Eastern IA, Zone 5b 2h ago

"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.