Plant Profile

Canadian Milkvetch - (Astragalus canadensis) 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 the Greek meaning "ankle bone"— the specific epithet means of Canada, referring to a portion of the native range of this species.

Warning for those with honeybees!!!

** Canadian Milkvetch’s nectar is considered toxic to honeybees**

 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, as the taproot makes transplanting a difficult and risky task.

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 are often used in floral arrangements.

Canadian Milkvetch is great when used 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 or along ponds and streams.