Canadian milkvetch is a herbaceous perennial legume in the bean family (Fabaceae) native to much of North America and found growing in wetlands, woodlands, and prairies. There are three accepted subspecies of this plant. The genus name Astragalus comes from Greek meaning "ankle bone"—the specific epithet means of Canada, referring to a portion of the native range of this species. It will grow 1 to 4 feet tall and 1.5 to 2 feet wide in a variety of soils; however, loamy wet to dry well-drained soils are preferred in full sun to partial shade. Propagate by seed. Several stalks of white to greenish flowers are formed in clusters 5 to 10 inches tall in June through August. They are attractive to hummingbirds and other pollinators. They are followed by 1/2 inch long pods that split to reveal 2 seeds. Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, thus improving soil quality. Flowers and seed pods can be used in floral arrangements. Use this plant as a groundcover and on slopes or banks for erosion control or naturalized areas. They can also be utilized in the pollinator. native, and cutting gardens and along ponds and streams. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. The plant contains glycosides but is considered less toxic than others in the genus. It can also absorb and retain other toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides and pollutants. The nectar is toxic to honeybees.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The compound leaves are 5 to 9 inches long with 15 to 31 slightly hairy leaflets. Leaflets are 1.25 inches long and 1/2 inch wide with a rounded base and blunt tip.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Gold/Yellow; Green; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Trumpet; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
This plant has slender, pea-like creamy, white to greenish flowers. Each raceme is 5 to 10 inches long and can produce up to 75 flowers.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The fruits consist of a stout, two-chambered, oval pod with a long, pointed tip which resembles a tail. It will split open when dry.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Typically, multistemmed. The rigid stems are slightly hairy. They will turn red in strong sun.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada and U.S.A
Distribution
AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY. Canada: AB , BC , MB , NT , ON , QC , SK
Wildlife value
The host plant for the Western Tailed Blue. Bumblebees, hummingbirds, honeybees, and other long tongues bees frequent the flowers. Birds, including wild turkey, eat the seeds.