False Indigo is a tall native shrub of floodplains and stream banks across North America with compound leaves and spike-like clusters of tiny purple flowers with orange stamens, creating an unusual two-tone effect. It is a nitrogen-fixer and is the larval host plant for silver-spotted skipper and other specialist insects. Dense stands provide cover for many wildlife species.
Best time to see a False Indigo
The best time to see a False Indigo is April–June, when about 67% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 14,979 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a False Indigo? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent False Indigo sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
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