This plant is a legume and its roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules on them. It is useful on nutrient poor soils. Treat as a small shrub or use as a background plant in a wildflower garden. Can make a nice but tall border plant. Its flowers are more visible if planted against something that gives them contrast such as a dark fence. Assets  include its long racemes of white flowers and its leafy, rounded foliage.

Use as a groundcover in moist areas. Also useful in wetland restoration areas.

Wildflower gardens.

May sucker and form small clones Foundation plantings, group or mass planting, multi-season accent, or specimen shrub.

Sources disagree on the salt tolerance of this species. Sometimes used for erosion control. Good in casual garden settings, especially useful for butterfly gardens, because it's a larval food for so many species of butterflies. It's a legume and tolerates poor soil.

Occurs along inland edges of salt marshes where it must tolerate at least periodic inundation by seawater.  Locations likely do not have high exposure to salty wind or spray (IRC). Can plant as a limited-area groundcover or allow to climb on a fence or other support. Not suited to formal gardens.