Native to the eastern half of the country and once known as Blue Sophora, by 1758, false indigo was comfortably settled in gardens. The pinnate leaves are blue-gray and look great all season long, and the dark lavender blue spires of pea-like flowers add much to the overall lushness of the June garden. Low maintenance and long-lived, it becomes a small bush in time — a classic companion to peonies and roses.