All flowers
Golden Banner Wikimedia Commons
Fabaceae

Golden Banner

Thermopsis montana

Rugged beauty.

Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Thermopsis
Native to
Western North America
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
Perennial
Height
30-90 cm
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Well-drained, adaptable
Water
Low to moderate
Hardiness
3-8
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Golden banner is often called 'false lupine' because its flower spikes closely resemble those of lupine.
  • As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it improves soil fertility wherever it grows.
  • It is one of the first showy wildflowers to bloom in mountain meadows after snowmelt.
  • The plant spreads via underground rhizomes and can form extensive colonies over time.
  • All parts of the plant are toxic to livestock, containing the alkaloid cytisine.

Color meanings

0

Mountain resilience

1

Western spirit

2

Bold display

Uses

  • Wildflower gardens
  • Erosion control
  • Native plant restoration
  • Ornamental