Downy false indigo

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host
Dogface Sulphur, Silver-spotted Skipper
🐝 Specialist Bee Host
Colletes robertsonii (Leadplant specialist)
❄️ Winter Food Source
Yes — Winter browse and persistent seeds.

Growing Conditions

Sun
Full Sun ☀️
Moisture
Dry 💧
Bloom
June, July
Sociability
S2 — Small groups

Ecology & Conservation

Proximity

Proximity Score

Our internally developed scale tracking proximity of historical species occurrence to our Eco-Region (8.1.8). 0 = hyper-local, 5 = off-continent.

4
Native Status
Outaouais: — · QC: — · ON: ✅

Native Occurrence

Closest Native Direction
West
Eco-zone

The closest historically occurring Eco-zone, mapped to the CEC values.

9 Great Plains
Eco-province
8.2 Central USA Plains
Eco-region
Northern Glaciated Plains

Rarity & Status

Rarity Notes
Vulnerable (ON): Rare outside tallgrass sites.
Rank QC

In Quebec, the CDPNQ (Centre de données sur le patrimoine naturel du Québec) is the body that assigns these ranks using the NatureServe methodology.

Click here for more info →
SNA — Not Applicable
Rank ON

The S-rank (Subnational Rank) is a standardized tool used across Canada to measure the extinction risk of a species within a specific province or territory.

Click here for more info →
S3 — Vulnerable
Ecological Context
Leadplant: Native to Western ON/Manitoba border.

Edibility & Foraging

Edible
❌ Not Edible

Permaculture and Companion Planting Properties

Role(s)
Nitrogen Fixer
Notes
Fixes nitrogen; improves soil quality for neighbors.

Medicinal Properties

Category
Digestive
Notes
Root used for stomach pain and worms.

Provenance

Seed Provenance
Ottawa Valley; Sudbury ON
Seed Source
Multiple seed sources:
  • OWSL
  • Northern Wildflowers
Downy false indigo