Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California; also in the eastern U.S.

Habitat: Roadsides, dry hillsides, fields, and other disturbed areas at low elevation.

Flowers: April-September

Origin: Introduced from Europe

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pubescent shrub, 1-3 m. tall, the branches greenish, prominently angled, sharply spine-tipped.

Leaves rigid and prickly.

Flowers pea-like, showy, borne along the short, stout, lateral branches; pedicels 3-6 mm. long; calyx 10-15 mm. long, hairy; corolla yellow, 15-20 mm. long; keel hairy along the lower margin, slightly shorter than the wings.

Pod hairy.