Virginia Goat's Rue Tephrosia virginiana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- tef-ROH-see-uh vir-jin-ee-AN-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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A member of the pea family, the plant has upright to sprawling stems. Native to dry, open woods, it is difficult to transplant. Flowers are pea-like, lemon-yellow to rose. Blooms Spring to Summer.
Toxic to insects and fish.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tephrosia
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- US
- Distribution:
- Eastern US and Canada
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus) larvae, which has two broods (possibly three) from June-early October, and Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) larvae, which broods a little earlier than May-July. The adults of these butterflies feed on the nectar of blue, purple, pink, or white flowers from a variety of species. Attracts butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Not edible
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from July to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 0.75 in. flower; yellow standard petal often flushed with pink and a rose-pink keel. Blooms from May to June.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Hairs Present:
- No
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
