Type: Deciduous
Exposure: Full Sun
Water Use: Low
Mature Size: 2’ H x 3’ W
Leadplant is a hardy, drought-tolerant native shrub commonly found in Southwestern landscapes. It is valued for its deep root system, which helps stabilize soil and improve its ability to retain water. Leadplant is in the Pea plant family and also enriches the soil by fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere, improving the soil. Its attractive purple flowers that bloom in late July support pollinators and its foliage of densely hairy leaflets provide shade, creating microclimates that protect neighboring plants from extreme heat. It occurs from grasslands to ponderosa forests in northeast and scattered Central New Mexico.