Indigo-bush
Psorodendron schottii · Fabaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Height
- 2-5 ft
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Water
- Very Low
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
- Pet toxicity
- Unknown
- Habitat
- Desert
🌿 California native
Quick facts
- Habitat: Desert washes, sandy flats, and rocky desert slopes
- Form / size: Fine-textured shrub, 2-5 ft
- Sun: Full sun · Water: Very low
- Blooms: Spring · Pollinator value: High
Description
A fine-leaved desert legume with small pinnate leaflets and purple pea-family flowers. It has a softer texture than many desert shrubs and can be locally showy in spring bloom.
Wildlife & pollinators
Purple pea flowers support native bees and butterflies during the desert spring bloom.
Habitat & range
Desert washes, sandy flats, rocky slopes, and dry bajadas of the low desert and desert-transition regions.
In the garden
Useful for dry desert gardens where a smaller, pollinator-friendly shrub is wanted. It needs lean soil and strong drainage.
Propagation
From seed, usually helped by scarification.
Where to see it near you
- iNaturalist — observed in Southern California
- Desert washes and dry slopes in spring.
Problems
Overwatering and heavy soil are the main issues.
