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seeds are brown and kidney shaped. There are

approximately 30,600 seeds per pound (Barner 2009).

Environmental Concerns

Mountain goldenbanner is native to western North

America and poses no known environmental concerns.

Distribution:

Mountain goldenbanner occurs in most western states

from New Mexico north to Montana and west to Oregon

Control

Mountain golden banner can be controlled in range and

and Washington. It is not known to occur in California.

hay land using broadleaf herbicides, specifically 2,4-D,

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile

page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Dicamba, Picloram, Triclopyr, or combinations thereof

(Plumlee 2004).

Habitat:

Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist

This species is most often found in moist sites in

meadows or along streams seeps and springs (Welsh et al.

or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your

area and how to use it safely. Always read label and

2003) at elevations of 760 to 3,500 m (2,500 to 11,400 ft)

safety instructions for each control method. Trade names

(Robson and Kingery 2006; Welsh et al. 2003).

and control measures appear in this document only to

provide specific information. USDA NRCS does not

Adaptation

guarantee or warranty the products and control methods

Mountain goldenbanner is adapted to moist, well-drained

named, and other products may be equally effective.

sandy to loam soils with a pH of 6.6 to 8.5. The plants

will persist in areas within USDA hardiness zones 4a to

Seeds and Plant Production

9b (Dave’s Garden, online).

Seed is mature in July and August when pods begin to

split open. Seed is large and easily cleaned with screens

Establishment

or an air column. Barner (2009) recommends processing

When used for pollinator plantings or native plant

the seed using a brush machine with a #20 mantel

gardens, golden mountain banner can be established by

followed by air-screening size 10 top screen and a 1/20

seed or with greenhouse propagated plants. This species

bottom screen.

spreads via rhizomes and should be planted where a

colony is desired. The full stand seeding rate for mountain

Germination is improved with scarification. Skinner

goldenbanner is 35 lbs/acre. Adjust this amount to the

(2005) reported 93% germination from seed scarified in

percentage of the seed mixture desired. Seed should be

hot water at 180° F compared to 39% germination from

planted to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch in late fall to allow

untreated seed. Seed that had been mechanically scarified

for natural stratification.

with sandpaper or scratched with a needle had 56 and

Management

84% germination respectively (Skinner 2005).

Due to its low palatability, mountain goldenbanner

increases on overgrazed range (USDA 1937). This species

For optimum growth, goldenbanner seed should be

is not recommended for planting on range or pasture

inoculated with the proper Rhizobium species prior to

where grazing occurs.

planting.

Pests and Potential Problems

Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area

Mountain goldenbanner can be considered weedy on

of origin)

roadsides, pastures and rangelands. It is not palatable to

Seed of mountain goldenbanner is available in limited

livestock and may compete with more desirable

quantities on the commercial market. Larger quantities of

vegetation.

seed can be grown on a contract basis.

References

Mountain goldenbanner is known to be toxic. It contains

Barner, Jim 2009. Propagation protocol for production of

alkaloids which are especially toxic in young plants and

Thermopsis montana Nutt. montana seeds; USDA FS

in mature flowering plants (Burrows and Tyrl 2001). All

- R6 Bend Seed Extractory, Bend, Oregon. In: Native

parts of the plant are toxic. Ingesting 0.6 to 2.8g of dry

Plant Network. URL:

foliage per kg of body weight for several days produces

(accessed 8

severe muscle degeneration in cattle (Keeler et al 1986).

November 2012). Moscow (ID): University of Idaho,

Chase and Keeler (1983) indicate that ingesting 300 to

College of Natural Resources, Forest Research

400g of dried plant material for 3 to 4 days will severely

Nursery.

intoxicate cattle and slightly more can be lethal.

Burrows, G.E. and R.J. Tyrl. 2001. Toxic Plants of North

America. Iowa State University Press. Ames, Iowa.

Humans can also be affected by consuming mountain

1342p.

goldenbanner. Children suffered digestive tract problems,

Chase, R.L. and R.F. Keeler. 1983. Mountain Thermopsis

weakness and neurological effects after eating a few seeds

toxicity in cattle. Utah Science. 44: 28-31.

or flowers (Spoerke et al. 1988).

Plant Guide - Mountain Goldenbanner Thermopsis Montana Nutt. Var. Montana - U.s. Department Of Agriculture Page 2

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