Indigo Bush, Psorothamnus schottii

photo of an Indigo Bush with pea-size flowers of deep purple
Indigo Bush with Its Deep Purple Flowers

An Indigo Bush in full flower is one of the most striking plants of the desert spring. The deep purple flowers are tiny, but when they cover the branches of this shrub, the effect is always a show-stopper.

In early spring, bees come to the Indigo Bush to gather pollen. Often, an Indigo Bush puts forth a gentle fragrance that is well worth sniffing around for. In late spring, the flowers disappear, leaving only the red fruit. At this time, the shrubs may fall victim to Rough Chaparral Dodder, Cuscuta californica var. papillosa, a sticky parasite.

Photograph of a Fremont Indigo Bush in Fruit
Indigo Bush Shows Its Reddish Fruit

Family: Fabaceae