When does Goat's Rue bloom?

Tephrosia virginiana blooms from June through August, producing dense clusters of pink and pale yellow flowers along upright stems.

What pollinators are attracted to Goat's Rue?

Bees and butterflies are the main visitors to Tephrosia virginiana flowers, drawn to the blooms during the summer flowering period.

What growing conditions suit Goat's Rue best?

Tephrosia virginiana grows best in full sun with well-drained, often sandy or rocky soil, and it tolerates low water once its root system is established.

Is Goat's Rue a shrub or an herbaceous plant?

Although it can look shrubby, Tephrosia virginiana is an herbaceous forb that dies back to the ground each year and regrows from its base in spring.

Is Goat's Rue HOA-friendly?

Goat's Rue takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Goat's Rue

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Tephrosia virginiana

Last reviewed: November 2026

Tephrosia virginiana is a low, bushy forb with pink and cream bicolored flowers blooming June through August. It favors full sun, sandy or rocky soil, and low water once established.

Watering reminders and freeze alerts for Goat's Rue, free in the app.

Toxicity unknown

Goat's Rue (Tephrosia virginiana) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

12"–24" H × 12"–18" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul, Aug

Native to

AL, AR, CT, FL and 26 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Deer

Resistant (per Prairie Moon Nursery)

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 461 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Goat's Rue.

Try it with your yard

Catgut is a low-growing native legume with attractive compound leaves and showy clusters of pink and white pea-like flowers. This drought-tolerant perennial forms neat clumps and blooms throughout summer, making it a reliable choice for sunny, well-drained areas.

Growing Goat's Rue

Grow Goat's Rue in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 24 inches tall and spread 12 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Goat's Rue takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Unfamiliar appearance may be perceived as weedy
Can look sparse or unkempt when not in bloom
Name 'Catgut' may raise concerns among neighbors

Wildlife value

Host plant for silver-spotted skipper, wild indigo duskywing.

The flowers attract native bees and butterflies, while the plant serves as a host for several butterfly species including skippers.

Common questions

When does Goat's Rue bloom?: Tephrosia virginiana blooms from June through August, producing dense clusters of pink and pale yellow flowers along upright stems.
What pollinators are attracted to Goat's Rue?: Bees and butterflies are the main visitors to Tephrosia virginiana flowers, drawn to the blooms during the summer flowering period.
What growing conditions suit Goat's Rue best?: Tephrosia virginiana grows best in full sun with well-drained, often sandy or rocky soil, and it tolerates low water once its root system is established.
Is Goat's Rue a shrub or an herbaceous plant?: Although it can look shrubby, Tephrosia virginiana is an herbaceous forb that dies back to the ground each year and regrows from its base in spring.
Is Goat's Rue HOA-friendly?: Goat's Rue takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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