White Wild Indigo

Description:

"This native perennial plant is about 3-6' tall and forms an erect, sparsely branched bush, although it is herbaceous. The stout central stem and upper side stems are smooth, light green or reddish purple, and glaucous. The compound leaves are trifoliate. They are usually greyish green or blue green, and hairless. Each leaflet is ovate or oblanceolate and pointed at both ends, with smooth margins, and about 2" long and ¾" across. The white flowers occur in erect spike-like racemes up to 2' long and are quite showy.". From: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prai...

Habitat:

"White Wild Indigo is widely distributed and occurs in almost every county of Illinois, but it is usually uncommon. In a few areas that are scattered around the state, this plant is locally common. Some local populations may be escaped cultivated plants, or the result of restoration efforts. Habitats include moist to dry black soil prairies, sand prairies, thickets, edges of marshes and sandy marshes, borders of lakes, limestone glades, and dry clay hills. White Wild Indigo is typically found in less disturbed habitats, partly because of limited seed dispersion. Occasional wildfires are readily tolerated." From: http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prai...

Notes:

Fitchie Creek Forest Preserve, Kane County, IL.