Prairie Thermopsis
Thermopsis rhombifolia
Mason Brock (Masebrock)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Thermopsis
- Species:
- Thermopsis rhombifolia
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 1-2 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may, jul
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow
Native Range
United States: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Filatima ornatifimbriella, Filatima xanthuris, Parectopa thermopsella, Virgin Tiger Moth (Grammia virgo), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), ⚠️Persius duskywing (Erynnis persius), Queen Alexandra's Sulphur (Colias alexandra), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Tri-colored bumble bee (Bombus ternarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- dry, sandy, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to prairies and open woodlands
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds are scarified
Establishment: The plant is commonly found in moist prairies, streambanks and woodlands from the eastern half of the United States to the great Plains and north into Alberta east to Ontario. Seeds are typically collected in small lots, around 0.4 pounds, and hand collected into paper bags.
Source: npn.rngr.net