Plant types and subtypes: Perennials
Light Requirements: sun, part-sun
Water Use: medium
Soil Moisture: moist
Soil Description: acid, rich, loam, sand
Height: 3'-5'
Bloom Time: May, June
Bloom Color: yellow
Leaf Color: green, gray-green
Hardiness Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Additional Tags: attracts bees, attracts butterflies, clumping, cottage garden plant, deer resistant, ornamental foliage

Pricing & Availability
Description
Thermopsis villosa
Also known as:Aaron's rod
,Carolina Lupine
,Carolina bush pea
,bush pea
,bushpea
Thermopsis caroliniana
Description
A member of the Pea family, Aaron's rod produces spikes of yellow flower clusters that closely resemble those of Lupine (hence it is also known as Carolina lupine) or Baptisia. The terminal racemes can reach a height of 5'. Spent flowers will be replaced by hairy pods.
Cultivation
Thermopsis villosa is a beautiful species for use in a cottage garden, or in the back of a perennial flower bed where its height will provide a bright backdrop in late spring to early summer. It is best grown in rich, well drained, moist soil, and in full to part-sun. Over time, plants will form large clumps up to 3' in diameter, so it's best to give them some space. Once established, it is remarkably tolerant of dry conditions thanks to its deep tap roots. This however also makes the plants difficult to transplant. It is recommended to cut the plants back about a month after flowering, to maintain a tidy appearance and encouraging new foliage to emerge that will remain attractive well into fall. Blooms in May and June. Zones 4-8
Propagation
Propagate by division in fall. To propagate from seed, it is recommended they be soaked over night before sowing. Plants started from seed may take 3 years to mature.
Native Range & Classification
Recorded County Distribution: USDA data
Native Range:
AL, CT, GA, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OR, TN, VA, VT, WV
Classification
Kingdom | Plantae | Plants | |
Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants | |
Superdivision | Spermatophyta | Seed plants | |
Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants | |
Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons | |
Subclass | Rosidae | ||
Order | Fabales | ||
Family | Fabaceae | Pea family | |
Genus | Thermopsis | goldenbanner | |
Species | Thermopsis villosa | Aaron's rod |