SafePlants

Canadian Milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis)

Canadian Milkvetch, scientifically known as Astragalus canadensis, is a perennial wildflower belonging to the legume family (Fabaceae). It is also commonly referred to as Canada Milk Vetch or Canadian Milk Vetch.

This plant is valued for its ecological contributions and its attractive floral display. Read on to learn more about its characteristics, distribution, and interactions with the environment.

Considerations for Pets

• Canadian milkvetch contains toxic compounds, and cattle have been fatally poisoned when consuming it on rangelands. While described as not being a "serious pest," caution may be warranted.

Considerations for Children

• The plant contains toxic compounds. It is important to teach children not to ingest any part of the plant.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Astragalus canadensis L.
• Family: Fabaceae (also known as Leguminosae or the Pea Family)
• Synonyms: Astragalus carolinianus (note: The text also mentions "A." as a synonym, but this is incomplete)
• Common Names: Canadian Milkvetch, Canada Milk Vetch, Canadian Milk Vetch, Shorttooth Canadian Milkvetch, Morton's Canadian Milkvetch.

Distribution and Habitat

• Canadian Milkvetch is widespread across most of North America and Siberia.
• In New England, it is rare and primarily found in the Lake Champlain region, particularly on beaches.
• It thrives in diverse habitats, including dry prairies, marshy grounds, forests, savannas, and glade habitats.
• It is common throughout the Tallgrass Prairie region on wet to dry sites.

Ecological Role

• Canadian Milkvetch is a valuable nectar source for bumblebees and honeybees.
• It serves as a food source for various herbivores, including deer, groundhogs, and rabbits.
• As a member of the nitrogen-fixing legume family, it contributes to soil enrichment.
• Its spreading rhizomatous growth habit makes it useful for riparian restoration and erosion control.
• It is excellent for pollinator and wildlife plantings.

Morphological Characteristics

• It is a perennial herb, typically growing to a height of 3-4 feet (approximately 1-1.5 meters).
• It has ridged, branching stems that may sprawl across other plants.
• The plant bears compound leaves.
• It features spike clusters of pale yellow, pea-shaped flowers, roughly an inch in length. The flowers resemble Wild Lupine with pagoda-like towers of creamy yellow in mid-summer. Petals may have yellow or green tints to creamy, greenish white.
• In late summer, the flowers transform into cone-like structures.

Quirky Facts

• The Blackfeet Native American tribe chewed the root of Astragalus canadensis as a poultice for cuts.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• It attracts bumblebees and honeybees.
• It's a food source for herbivores like deer, groundhogs, and rabbits.
• A harvestman (possibly Phalangium opilio) has been observed on Canadian Milkvetch in Colorado.

Further Information

• USDA Plants Database: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=asca11
• Discover Life: Information on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Canadian Milkvetch.