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Discuss this plant with the guide — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.
Thermopsis divaricarpa
Colorado native. C-perennials
May poison livestock. Native status, garden use and noxious-weed class are separate from toxicity. Exposure help.
Identification caveat: Do not silently substitute Thermopsis montana or T. lupinoides studies for T. divaricarpa.
Still researching this plant
This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for People, Dogs & cats. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.
Three views of this plant
Photos are source-identified examples, not a complete identification key. Check leaves, stems, flowers and fruit together. Locations are not assumed to be in Colorado.
Laura J. Costello · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
The photo belongs to an iNaturalist research-grade observation identified as the named taxon; source taxon, quality grade, and identifications are retained. Visible morphology was checked for consistency, not treated as an independent botanical determination.
No edits to the downloaded image. Wikimedia may have supplied a scaled thumbnail; original and download URLs are recorded separately. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Shalana Gray · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
The photo belongs to an iNaturalist research-grade observation identified as the named taxon; source taxon, quality grade, and identifications are retained. Visible morphology was checked for consistency, not treated as an independent botanical determination.
No edits to the downloaded image. Wikimedia may have supplied a scaled thumbnail; original and download URLs are recorded separately. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Curtis Drake · CC BY 4.0
Photo source and identification
Original record · Original image
The photo belongs to an iNaturalist research-grade observation identified as the named taxon; source taxon, quality grade, and identifications are retained. Visible morphology was checked for consistency, not treated as an independent botanical determination.
No edits to the downloaded image. Wikimedia may have supplied a scaled thumbnail; original and download URLs are recorded separately. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.
Recognize
Upright spikes of yellow, pea-like flowers on a native perennial. C-perennials
Plants & habitat
Spreads vigorously by rhizomes. Give it room in a garden; its ability to crowd smaller neighbors is a garden-management concern. C-perennials
People
This review has no species-specific human exposure assessment. This is an evidence gap, not proof of safety.
Dogs & cats
Species-specific ingestion effects and exposure thresholds were not established in the reviewed sources. This is an evidence gap, not proof of safety.
Other animals
CSU Extension’s Boulder County livestock guide lists this exact species among native plants that may be poisonous to livestock. No safe dose or safe growth stage is established here. C-banner
Before taking action
Confirm the scientific name before removing a plant, changing animal access, or choosing treatment. An evidence gap means this review has not resolved the question. It does not mean safe. For listed weeds, consult your county weed program about the requirements for your location; follow the current label for any pesticide. S27
References
- C-perennials — Native Herbaceous Perennials for Colorado Landscapes, Colorado State University Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:27:17+00:00. Locator: Description, distribution, hazards, management; see claim locator.
- C-banner — Rural Living Guide: Agriculture and Livestock, CSU Extension, Boulder County. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:31:28+00:00. Locator: Other Common Plants that may be Poisonous to Livestock: Golden Banner (Thermopsis divaricarpa).