Dark Indigo Bush

Amorpha nitens

Native status unresolved in Kentucky

Photographs are not available yet.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

30CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Amorpha

Epargyreus clarusSilver-spotted Skipper
Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Agonopterix argillaceaClay-Colored Agonopterix
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Catocala amestrisThree-Staff Underwing
Catocala consorsThe Consort
Catocala habilisHabilis Underwing
Catocala illectaMagdalen Underwing
Catocala nuptialisMarried Underwing

Show all 30

Catocala whitneyiWhitney's Underwing
Cecropterus lyciadesHoary Edge
Cecropterus pyladesNorthern Cloudywing
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Dasylophia anguinaBlack-Spotted Prominent
Digrammia ordinataOrdered Angle
Grapholita eclipsanaSolidago Root Moth
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
Parectopa robiniellaLocust Digitate Leafminer
Pleuroprucha insulsariaCommon Tan Wave
Schinia lucensAmorpha Flower Moth, Leadplant Moth, Flase Indigo Flower Moth
Strymon melinusGray Hairstreak
Uresiphita reversalisGenista Caterpillar, Genista Cbroom Moth
Zerene cesoniaSouthern Dogface
Agonopterix dimorphella
Sinoe robiniella
Sitochroa dasconalis

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

3Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Amorpha

Andrena cragini
Colletes susannae
Hoplitis micheneri

Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Fabaceae
Flower color: Purple

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Flower color · “Purple” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Height · “Up to about 10 feet” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Light · “Partial shade; Full sun (documented habitat)” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team) · Carolinas and Georgia
primary_flower_color · “purple” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Soil · “Dry; Moist; Wet (documented habitat)” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team) · Carolinas and Georgia

Also known as

Dark Indigo Bush; Shining False Indigo Bush

Conservation status

Kentucky rank	S3?
Global rank	Not available
KY status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source

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