Plant Type

Shrub

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Purple

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Grey Green

 

Bark Color

Tan, White

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Very Low, Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Rocky

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Meadow, Ranch, Spanish

 

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border, Shrub Border, Foundation, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Naturalizing, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

Butterflies

Leadplant is a showy, small shrub that grows 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, with an upright to rounded form. Foliage is long, compounded and needle-like, and greyish-green. New wood is densely hairy and whitish. Thin spikes of pea-like flowers occur July to September, and are violet-blue with orange eyes. Provides substance to the sunny perennial border or meadow garden. Attracts bees and butterflies. Grows about 2 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide.

Grow in full sun and well-drained soil. Does well in poor, sandy, somewhat dry soils. Leadplant is a deep-rooted perennial that nitrifies the soil. It grows in a wide range of soil conditions, but avoid wet clays and very dry, sandy soils. Moderately xeric, a deep soaking every couple of weeks is recommended for established plants. An annual late-fall pruning back to a foot tall will increase the flowers. Not adapted to low-desert heat. USDA Zones 4-8. May spread by self-seeding.