False indigo is a deciduous shrub that typically grows to 6 to 8 feet tall and, due somewhat to its sprawly habit, with a spread often in excess of its height. Compound, odd-pinnate leaves, oval to elliptic in shape, are dull gray-green. Tubular scented flowers bloom in May and June in dense, spike-shaped clusters up to 8-inches long. Flowers are purple with orange-yellow anthers. Flowers are followed by fruits in small pods which mature in July and August.
Grow in average, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Tolerant of occasional flooding. Also tolerates poor, sandy, somewhat dry soils. May spread by self-seeding and/or suckers to form thickets. It is considered weedy/invasive in some parts of its range, so not well suited for our riparian corridor areas. Prune hard to just inches above the ground in late winter to early spring for purposes of improving shrub form.