Tephrosia virginiana (L.) Pers.

Stems 1–several, ± erect, 2–7 dm, unbranched or with a few weak axillary branches; herbage densely villous or sericeous to sparsely strigillose or partly glabrous; lfls mostly (9–)15–25(–31), elliptic or linear-oblong, 1–3 cm; racemes terminal to the main stem and sometimes to axillary branches, short-pedunculate or sessile, compact, mostly 4–8 cm; pedicels 4–10(–17) mm; bracts setaceous, deciduous; fls 1.5–2 cm, usually bicolored, the standard yellow to ochroleucous, the wings and keel pink or pale purple; fr 3.5–5.5 cm, strigose to villous; 2n=22. Old fields, open woods, and dunes, often in sandy soil; s. N.H. to Fla., w. to Wis., se. Minn., Kans., and Tex. June, July (Cracca v.)

Dry sandy woods and openings. Well-drained, open, circumneutral to acid, non-calcareous soils in oak or pine woods, on ridges and prairies.

Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.