Rocky Mountain Milkvetch

Astragalus scopulorum

Rocky Mountain Milkvetch

Patrick Alexander from Las Cruces, NM

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Astragalus
Species:
Astragalus scopulorum

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
1-2 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr, may, jun, jul, aug, sep
Bloom Colors:
White, Yellow
Ground Cover:
Yes

Native Range

United States: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah

Keystone Species Ranking

Bee Keystone:
★★★☆☆ Based on number of native bee species using this genus for pollen and nectar (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to rocky slopes and ridges

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