The lead plant is a North American native. The name derives from a grayish sheen on
the leaves, due to abundant short dense hairs.
Identification: Plants are 1-3′ (30-91 cm) tall, sometimes
producing side branches; sometimes upright, sometimes sprawling. The leaves are bipinnate,
composed of up to 50 leaflets each, 4-12″ (10-30 cm) long overall, with leaflets about ¼″ (6.3 mm) ×
½″ (1.3 cm). Long vertical flower spikes are covered with tiny purple flowers.
Flowerhead of Amorpha canescens, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. Photo by Jim Pisarowicz of the National Park Service.