Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Astragalus

Species:

Astragalus melilotoides

USDA Symbol:

ASME13

Growth Characteristics

Height:

40 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

yellow, cream

Keystone Species Ranking

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:

★★★☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, native pollinators

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts from woody crown after fire; common in fire-maintained prairie ecosystems. Fire reduces thatch and stimulates flowering.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

well-drained, sandy loam soil

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–45 days

Notes:

Hard seed coat typical of legumes; scarification with sandpaper or brief acid treatment improves germination rates significantly.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI