Bumblebees and honeybees enjoy this perennial, as well as hummingbirds and some butterflies (it’s a larval host to the Western Tailed Blue butterfly). The leaves are fern-like and provide unique garden texture.
Astragalus Canadensis milkvetch. It is a flowering plant in the legume family, which includes peas. The genus Astragalus is the largest genus of plants in terms of described species, with over 3,000 species of herbs and small shrubs native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
~100 seeds per packet
NATIVE ASTRAGALUS SEEDS (Astragalus Canadensis)
PLANTING & GROWING
In the spring scratch the seeds with sandpaper and plant into well draining soil. Astragalus enjoys full sun to partial shade.
While Canada milkvetch is adapted to the dry inland West, it does prefer a little bit soil moisture. Streambanks, wet meadows, irrigation sloughs, drainage areas, and the like are great. Canada milkvetch is also beautifully adapted to a wide gradient of elevations, soil types, and hardiness zones, making it a very flexible option for a whole bunch of different settings.
MEDICINAL BENEFITS
- Immunity
- Energy
- Antimicrobial
- Adaptogen
NOTE: Do not consume raw. Astragalus root is used in medicine when dried and steeped into a tea.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
FLAVOR & PAIRING
Astragalus root has one of the most enjoyable flavors. It has a semi sweet startchy rooty flavor. It pairs well with cinnamon, lucuma, honey, and more.
LANDSCAPING TIPS
Single specimens will work fine, but given Astragalus's unassuming bloom spikes, massing might give you a more dramatic effect. Consider using it in drifts among short grasses or near the front of a border.