Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Fabaceae

Genus:

Astragalus

Species:

Astragalus tephrodes

USDA Symbol:

ASTE8

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb

Height:

30 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun

Bloom Colors:

purple, lavender, white

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:

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

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

bees, small mammals

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Like many legumes of fire-prone grasslands and woodlands, can resprout from rootstock after fire.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to arid regions; prefers open, sunny habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

14–42 days

Notes:

Scarification of the hard seed coat is typically required for good germination rates. Seeds may also benefit from cold stratification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI