Indigo bush, False indigo, Itachi-hagi
Amorpha fruticosa
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It can grow 2-6 m tall. The leaves are 15-30 cm long with 11-25 leaflets. These are 1-4 cm long and oval. The flowers are in a group at the end. These are 8-15 cm long. The fruit is 8-10 mm long.
There are about 25 Amorpha species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 2-8. It grows in wet areas. In Sichuan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Asia, Canada, Central Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, North America (country/location of origin), Pakistan, SE Asia, Slovenia, South America, Tajikistan, Uruguay, USA
How it is used for food
The fruit or pod is crushed and used as a condiment.
Edible parts
Fruit - spice