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Native Plant Database

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Astragalus americanus (Hook.) M.E. Jones

American milk-vetch, American milkvetch, Rattlepod

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Synonyms: Astragalus frigidus, Astragalus frigidus var. americanus, Astragalus frigidus var. gaspensis, Phaca americana

USDA Symbol: ASAM3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A woody-based, branched perennial,1-3 ft. tall with large, light green, pinnately-compound leaves and greenish-white, tinged purple, pea-like flowers in loose racemes.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Pinnate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Legume
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CO , MT , SD , WY
Canada: AB , BC , SK
Native Distribution: AK, s. in Rockies though e. B.C. & MT to CO; also in the Black Hills & scattered e. in Canada to Que.
Native Habitat: Stream banks; meadows; thicket openings; flood plains
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Moist, rocky or sandy soils.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees
Special Value to Bumble Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Easily propagated by seed sown unstratified in fall or stratified in spring.
Seed Collection: Take care to collect pods before seeds are eaten by insects.
Seed Treatment: Scarification, inoculation, and moist stratification for 10 days.
Commercially Avail: yes

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Astragalus americanus in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Astragalus americanus in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Astragalus americanus

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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