The lead plant is a deciduous semi-shrub in the legume family (Fabaceae) native to central North America, typically found growing in well-drained open spaces such as sandy flats and valleys, hillsides, streambanks, woodlands, glades, and prairies. The genus name comes from the Greek meaning shapeless or deformed in reference to the corolla of this pea family genus lacking wings and a keel. Specific epithet means with off-white or ashy-grey hairs in reference to the leaves and twigs. The lead plant grows 1 to 3 feet tall and spreads 2 to 2.5 feet. It does best in full sun in sandy or rocky, well-drained soil but is not too particular about soil type. It is drought-tolerant, and as a legume, it fixes nitrogen in the soil. If grown in a shady location, it will sprawl along the ground towards a sunnier area. Its roots can reach depths up to 4 feet and sometimes deeper, helping the plant to survive wildfires. It needs to be protected from deer, rabbits and other herbivores. Its tiny purple flowers are grouped in showy terminal spikes. The leaves and stems are covered with short, dense hairs. This covering gives a gray tint to the leaves, making the plant appear as if it had been dusted with lead, hence the common name. It was once believed that the plant indicated there was lead in the ground. The best use for the lead plant is in naturalized areas as a wildflower garden, meadow or prairie. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Although this plant has no serious disease or insect problems, there is some susceptibility to leaf spots, rust, canker, and powdery mildew.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense; Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The showy leaves are alternate, compound pinnate with 14 to 45 leaflets that are dense, and have a grayish pubescence in full sun. The leaf is 4 to 12 inches long, and the leaflets are 1/2 inch long and 1/4 inch wide.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small flowers appear along 2-6" pubescent spikes that grow at the ends of major branches. The purple-blue flowers have 8 exerted reddish stamens with bright yellow anthers that are quite conspicuous. They bloom from May to June.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The legumes are small, hairy pods that turn from green to dark brown as they mature. Fruit does not grow in abundance.