Lead Plant

(Amorpha canescens)

Bean Family

A perennial with erect, somewhat woody stems growing up to 3 feet tall. The stems have gray, soft hairs, giving the plant both its leaden hue and its name. The leaves are stalked and divided into as many as 51 leaflets. Each leaflet is up to ¾ inch long and ½ inch wide. The stems are tipped by tapering spikes of small, blue to deep purple flowers, each having a single, ¼ inch long petal that is shorter than the golden-yellow to orange stamens.