PRAIRIE PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS: Canadian Milk-vetch (Astragalus canadensis)

Canadian Milk-vetch, plant

PLANT INFO

Common Name	Canadian Milk-vetch
Popular Name(s)
Scientific Name	Astragalus canadensis
Family Name	Fabaceae
Type	Legume
Longevity	Perennial
Origin	Native

PLANT PHOTOS

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Whole Plant (Growth Form) Characteristics
Up to 1.5 m tall, rhizomatous
Leaf Characteristics
Smooth, elliptic to oblong shaped, 13-31 leaves, 2.5-5 cm long, compound, alternate
Stem Characteristics
Smooth, stout
Flower and Flowering Head Characteristics
Greenish white or cream, spike, pea flower shaped, 10 stamens, 4-5 petals and sepals, bilaterally symmetrical, petals fused into a tube
Fruit Characteristics
Smooth, erect, stout, pod with style forming a tail, 12-15 mm long, 2 celled, dry, splits open when ripe
Seed Characteristics
Brown
Other Notable Visual Characteristics

Look-Alikes

Liquorice milkvetch (Astragalus glycyphyllos): Liquorice milkvetch has a shorter flowering spike than Canadian milkvetch

HABITAT AND PHENOLOGY

Habitat
Dry prairies, stream and river banks, marshes, low root disturbance areas
Plant Emergence Time
Early spring
Flowering Period
May-July
Fruit / Seed Period
August-October

FUNCTIONAL VALUE

Food Value
Toxins
Mildly toxic
Cultural Value
Used by First Nations in broth or in tea to treat chest pain and coughs
Pollinator Value
Bees, moths and butterflies
Other Modern Uses

Whole Plant (Growth Form) Characteristics	Up to 1.5 m tall, rhizomatous
Leaf Characteristics	Smooth, elliptic to oblong shaped, 13-31 leaves, 2.5-5 cm long, compound, alternate
Stem Characteristics	Smooth, stout
Flower and Flowering Head Characteristics	Greenish white or cream, spike, pea flower shaped, 10 stamens, 4-5 petals and sepals, bilaterally symmetrical, petals fused into a tube
Fruit Characteristics	Smooth, erect, stout, pod with style forming a tail, 12-15 mm long, 2 celled, dry, splits open when ripe
Seed Characteristics	Brown
Other Notable Visual Characteristics
Look-Alikes	Liquorice milkvetch (Astragalus glycyphyllos): Liquorice milkvetch has a shorter flowering spike than Canadian milkvetch

Habitat	Dry prairies, stream and river banks, marshes, low root disturbance areas
Plant Emergence Time	Early spring
Flowering Period	May-July
Fruit / Seed Period	August-October

Food Value
Toxins	Mildly toxic
Cultural Value	Used by First Nations in broth or in tea to treat chest pain and coughs
Pollinator Value	Bees, moths and butterflies
Other Modern Uses