Tephrosia vicioides, commonly known as Goat’s Rue or Devil’s Shoestring, is a deciduous perennial herb native to the Southwestern US, Mexico and Central America. It typically grows to a height of 0.5-2 feet (0.2-0.6 meters) and a width of 1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters). The plant has a bushy form with compound leaves that are green above and silvery-hairy beneath, giving it a distinctive appearance. From late spring to early summer, it produces showy spikes of pea-like flowers that are white and purple, which are highly attractive to pollinators.

Goat’s Rue is valued for its ornamental flowers and its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility. It is used in native plant gardens, prairie restorations, and as a border plant. It prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate drought once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping. While it thrives in full sun, it can also do well in part shade. Care should be taken as all parts of the plant are toxic if ingested, and it can cause skin irritation in some individuals.CC BY-SA 4.0