Goat's rue is a silky-haried native wildflower from the pea family that transforms dry, sandy soils into pollinator magnets. This Missouri native grows 12 to 24 inches tall on upright to sprawling stems, producing showy pink and white flowers from May through August that butterflies cannot resist. Hardy in zones 3 through 9, it thrives in full sun on poor, dry soils where other plants struggle, asking for nothing but well-drained sandy loam and the patience to let it establish itself.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-9
24in H x 18in W
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Moderate
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Goat's rue handles drought and sandy, acidic soils with remarkable ease once established, making it invaluable for gardeners working with challenging growing conditions. The compound, odd-pinnate leaves create an airy texture against showy, bicolored flowers that bloom for four months straight. Its resistance to pests and diseases means you can plant it and largely forget it, which is the very definition of low-maintenance gardening done right.
Goat's rue serves primarily as an ornamental wildflower and pollinator attractor in native plant gardens and naturalized settings. Its showy, long-blooming flowers make it valuable for supporting butterfly populations and other pollinators throughout the growing season.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplanting goat's rue is difficult and best avoided once the plant is established. If you must transplant seedlings, do so very gently in early spring into their permanent location, as the plant resents being moved. Handle with extreme care to avoid damaging the root system.
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“Native to dry open woods, glades, and sandy prairies across Eastern North America from Ontario and New Hampshire south to Texas and Florida, goat's rue has long anchored the prairies and open woodlands of the eastern and central United States. Throughout Missouri's southern, central, and eastern regions, it flourished in the thin soils where conventional plants failed. The plant's deep cultural roots in these landscapes speak to its role as a keystone species in native plant communities, thriving where others could not.”