Goat's Rue

This is such a unique wildflower and I am happy to have this one growing in my garden.

Goat's Rue is a perennial which begins blooming in May. It thrives in hot sun and sandy, poor soils. Plants will grow to about 2 feet tall with its beautiful cream and pink colored blooms which resemble pea blossoms. It is a member of the Legume family. It is a very pretty plant with its fuzzy looking leaves coming from many fine white hairs covering the plant. Click for a closer look.

Common names of this plant are Catgut or Devil's Shoestring. It is very high in nitrogen and makes the soil more fertile when fed to livestock. Early settlers grew this plant as food for their livestock. It also has many medicinal properties. Some tribes of Native Americans thought this plant caused larger milk yield in goats.

"And thou shalt have goat's milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens."

Proverbs 27:27