Indian Milkvetch
Astragalus australis
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Astragalus
- Species:
- Astragalus australis
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 1-2 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun, jul
- Bloom Colors:
- White, Purple
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Keystone Species Ranking
- Bee Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers open, sunny locations
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Scarify, then cold-moist stratify for 60 days.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o