Bearded Golden Banner Plant Care
Thermopsis villosa (Walter) Fernald & B.G.Schub.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Thermopsis villosa, commonly referred to as Carolina (false) lupine, Carolina bush pea, Southern lupine, Aaron's rod, and Blue Ridge golden banner, is an herbaceous plant in the legume family. Its native range is in North America, in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
60–80°F
40–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Bearded Golden Banner?
Water Bearded Golden Banner every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 60–80°F (16–27°C) and 40–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Bearded Golden Banner?
Bearded Golden Banner (Thermopsis villosa) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Thermopsis genus. Bearded Golden Banner is also known as Villous Golden Banner, False Lupine.
Bearded Golden Banner displays an upright, bushy perennial growth habit, reaching up to 3 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Bearded Golden Banner produces showy clusters of yellow, pea-like flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Bearded Golden Banner?
Thermopsis villosa requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Bearded Golden Banner Need?
Bearded Golden Banner thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Bearded Golden Banner Prefer?
Thermopsis villosa grows best at temperatures of 60–80°F. Bearded Golden Banner prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.
Temperature
60–80°F
Humidity
40–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Bearded Golden Banner?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Bearded Golden Banner to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Bearded Golden Banner?
Feed Bearded Golden Banner every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Bearded Golden Banner?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Bearded Golden Banner?
Bearded Golden Banner can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to california false lupine plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Bearded Golden Banner Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Bearded Golden Banner, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Bearded Golden Banner?
Bearded Golden Banner is susceptible to aphids, leafhoppers, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Bearded Golden Banner Need?
Bearded Golden Banner grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13a. It survives winters down to planting zone 13a. In cooler regions, grow Bearded Golden Banner as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13a
Keep exploring plants
Bearded Golden Banner is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Thermopsis genus — compare its care with other Thermopsis species on PlantoScan.
Thermopsis is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Bearded Golden Banner thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Thermopsis villosa (Walter) Fernald & B.G.Schub., family Fabaceae (first published in Rhodora 50: 201 (1948)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Bearded Golden Banner, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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