Blue Ridge Golden-banner

Thermopsis villosa

Found in floodplains, moist disturbed areas, woodland edges, roadbanks. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Northern Tier edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 76%

Height: 3–5 feet
Spread: 1–3 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Usually moist

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At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: May to June
Fruiting season: July to September

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Not yet recorded · Leaves

Recorded in 2 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 3

Named place / source context. Shown: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Georgia and Tennessee; which part is not recorded, a neighboring state.Wooded scene looking out over partially open fields, Richard Schlecht, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 154 animals.

Barred Owl
Strix varia
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-and-White Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Dendroica caerulescens
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black-throated Green Warbler
Dendroica virens
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Blue-headed Vireo
Vireo solitarius
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Fox Sparrow
Passerella iliaca
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Golden-winged Warbler
Vermivora chrysoptera
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Northern Parula
Parula americana
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Birds. 3 shared habitats
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Birds. 3 shared habitats
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Yellow-throated Warbler
Dendroica dominica
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Birds. 2 shared habitats

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

5CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Thermopsis

Apantesis virgoVirgin Tiger Moth
Colias eurythemeOrange Sulphur, Alfalfa Butterfly
Colias philodiceClouded Sulphur, Clover Butterfly
Gesta baptisiaeWild Indigo Duskywing, Baptisia Duskywing
Glaucopsyche lygdamusSilvery Blue

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

—BeesSoutheastern regional records

—Specialist beesPollen specialists

—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Fabaceae
Hardiness: Zones 4a–9b
Soil pH: Acidic
Flower color: Cream or yellow
Fruit begins: July
Fruit ends: September

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to June” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “Cream or yellow” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Fruit begins · “July” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Fruit ends · “September” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition · Carolinas and Georgia
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “3–5 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs)
Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differ)
Soil · “Moist” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox (ranked first; Tennessee Smart Yards differs)
Soil pH · “Acidic” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “1–3 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Aarons Rod Golden Banner; Blue Ridge Golden Banner; Carolina lupin; Carolina lupine

Conservation status

Virginia rank	SNA
Global rank	G3?
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

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