Goat's Rue
Tephrosia virginiana
Last reviewed: September 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.
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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Goat's Rue? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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