Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City, USA

Common name: Leadplant

Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Distribution: North America

IUCN Red list: Not evaluated

Hardiness: 3a

Life form: Deciduous shrub/sub-shrub

Comments: Lead plant usually grows in a semi-erect habit. However in shaded situations, it will grow along the ground in the direction of a greater light source. The young stems are light green and covered with white hairs. It has compound leaves that are whitish to greyish green, depending on the intensity of sunlight. Sometimes fine hairs will cover the plant to the extent that it appears to be heavily dusted with white lead, hence its common name. With age, it will become increasingly woody. For about 3 weeks in early to mid-summer, small flowers bloom along pubescent spikes, at the ends of major branches. These flowers range in color from light to dark purple, and there is little or no floral scent.