Napa False Indigo
Amorpha californica var. napensis
Care
part shade
low
Fast, Medium; Tolerates sand.
10–10ft tall , 6–6ft wide
Mar-Aug
Deciduous
Resistant
Prized
Napa County serpentine soils in the Coast Ranges, 500-2000 ft elevation.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Napa False Indigo in partial shade with fast-draining soil - it tolerates sand and prefers not to sit in moisture. Space it where it has room to reach 10 feet tall and wide. Plant in fall or early spring when the soil is workable, and be patient: this variety is somewhat difficult in cultivation and may take time to establish.
After Planting
Water weekly through your first summer, then taper off to once a month or less once established - this is a low-water plant that needs almost nothing in subsequent years. Don't overwater; poor drainage is the quickest way to kill it. Expect it to drop its leaves in winter (it's deciduous), and you can prune lightly in spring if needed, though it naturally stays relatively neat. Year one will feel slow, but once established, you'll have a tough, deer-resistant shrub that blooms spring through summer.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
Federal Threatened; California Endangered; Species of Special Concern
California Dogface butterfly, state insect
Wildlife Supported
Insects
multiple broods use as larval host plant
larval food plant for spring brood development
specialist on Amorpha species for larval development
important legume host for larval development throughout growing season
native pollinator accessing nectar throughout blooming period
spring generation host plant
generalist forager on available flowers
wood-boring larvae in stems
+2 more species