Dalea formosa, Indigobush
Scientific Name: Dalea formosa
Common Name: Indigobush
Also Called: Feather Dalea, Feather Indigo, Feather Plume, Featherplume, Feathery Dalea and Pea Bush, (Spanish: Yerba de Alonso García)
Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae Family
Synonyms: (Parosela formosa)
Size: Up to 3 feet or more (6 feet).
Growth Form: Shrub or subshrub; low-growing, woody, without thorns; scraggly.
Leaves: Green or light-green; odd pinnately compound; leaflets gland-dotted, small and delicate; may form colonies.
Flower Color: Purple and pink with yellow throat, some violet; showy, spectacular, short spike-like clusters; flowers somewhat fuzzy and feathery in appearance; fruit is a small indehiscent legume.
Flowering Season: March to June, also blooms again after monsoon rainfall; blooms through September in Texas.
Elevation: 2,000 to 6,500 feet.
Habitat Preferences: Rocky hillsides, rocky areas and mountains.
Recorded Range: Dalea formosa is found in the southwest in AZ, CO, NM, OK and TX. It is also native to northern and north-eastern Mexico.
U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.
Comments: Indigobush or Feathery Dalea may be used as an easy to grow, low maintainence ornamental as a low-growing ground-cover on sunny-slopes.
An infusion of leaves has been used as an emetic before breakfast by the Acoma and Laguna Native American. Other uses have also been identififed. For a complete listing see ethno-botanical uses at Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn.