Astragalus canadensis

Common Names

Canadian Milkvetch, Canadian Milk Vetch, Canada Milk Vetch, Milk Vetch, Locoweed, Loco Weed, Rattle Weed, Shorttooth Canadian Milkvetch, Morton's Canadian Milkvetch, Milk-Vetch

Summary

Canada milkvetch is a native North American herbaceous perennial legume that grows 1–4 ft tall with upright stems and pinnately compound leaves bearing numerous leaflets; dense spike-like clusters of creamy white to pale yellow-green pea-like flowers bloom from June to August, followed by beanlike pods; as a nitrogen fixer, it enriches soil and is used in prairie restorations and naturalized plantings.

In cultivation it prefers full sun to partial shade and mesic soils, tolerating loam, sand/gravel, or calcareous substrates; it is used in prairie restorations, native plantings, erosion control, and shoreline stabilization; propagation is by seed; it provides nectar for bees and butterflies and supports wildlife.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-4 feet

Spread

18-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun or partial shade

Soil Type

Loamy, well-drained soils

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

6.0-8.0, Neutral

Bloom Color

Creamy white

Bloom Time

Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Rhizomes

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds, and hummingbirds