Amorpha (fruticosa)
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John Vandevender Center Manager USDA NRCS - Appalachian Plant Materials Center P. O. Box 390 Alderson, West Virginia 24910 304-445-3005 John.vandevender@wv.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/wvpmc |
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| Family Scientific Name: | Fabaceae / Leguminosae | ||
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| Family Common Name: | Pea | ||
| Scientific Name: | Amorpha fruticosa L. | ||
| Common Name: | false indigo bush | ||
| Species Code: | AMFR | ||
| Ecotype: | Central Appalachian | ||
| General Distribution: | Found in all of the continental states with the exception of Nevada and Montana. Also found in the eastern Canadian provinces. | ||
| Known Invasiveness: | None | ||
| Propagation Goal: | plants | ||
| Propagation Method: | seed | ||
| ProductType: | Container (plug) | ||
| Stock Type: | 1+0 container | ||
| Time To Grow: | Years | ||
| Target Specifications: | A second spring seedling ranging in height from 6" to 18" and having a compact, well developed root system. | ||
| Propagule Collection: | Mature fruit was hand harvested from a population of Central Appalachian Amorpha fructosa maintained at the Appalachian Plant Materials Center. | ||
| Propagule Processing: | Seed can be hand stripped from the plants from September to November or the entire seed head may be clipped. Seed heads were broken apart using a hammer mill. Seed was cleaned using a clipper fanning mill. | ||
| Pre-Planting Treatments: | Mechanical scarification for 15 seconds using a Forsberg seed scarifier. | ||
| Growing Area Preparation/ Annual Practices for Perennial Crops: |
Pro-mix BX with biofungicide was moistened and placed in heavy plastic trays. The soil was compacted somewhat to prepare a firm seedbed. | ||
| Establishment Phase: | Seed was spread evenly by hand on the soil surface and then covered with 1/8 to 1/4 inch of additional soil. The top layer was pressed down slightly to ensure good seed to soil contact. The seed was then artificially cold stratified at 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 days. Upon completion of cold stratification, seed was moved to the greenhouse to stimulate germination. | ||
| Length of Establishment Phase: | 1 month | ||
| Active Growth Phase: | Once the seedlings had developed adequate root systems, they were transplanted into 1 gallon plastic pots filled with Metro-mix 510 growing medium. Transplants were maintained at a minimum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the greenhouse under automatic watering and natural lighting. | ||
| Length of Active Growth Phase: | 6 - 9 months | ||
| Hardening Phase: | Plants were moved into a shadehouse which provided a minimum of 50 percent shade to allow for hardening off before shipping. | ||
| Length of Hardening Phase: | 2 weeks | ||
| Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: | Plants with sufficient top growth were distributed to various NRCS field offices throughout the Appalachian Region for use in mine land reclamation. | ||
| Other Comments: | False indigo bush is usually considered to be a pioneering species which invades disturbed sites, fencerows, roadsides, abandoned fields and forest and grassland borders. | ||
| References: | USDA, NRCS. 2015. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 11 March 2014). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA. | ||
Citation:
Vandevender, John. 2015. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Amorpha fruticosa L. plants 1+0 container; USDA NRCS - Appalachian Plant Materials Center Alderson, West Virginia. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/04/03). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.
