Astragalus canadensis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ass-TRA-gal-uss ka-na-DEN-sis
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Originating in the Lonetree Wildlife Management Area in South Dakota, this native wildflowers bloom season runs from summer into early fall. Its habitat includes prairies, savannas, thickets, woodland borders, or along a river shore where it tends to colonize. The colonization assists in the plant's consistent presence in locals, as plants only live 3 to 4 years. It will grow in a variety of soils, however loamy soils are preferred. Highly nutritious, deer and other grazing animals frequent this plant.
The raceme forms at the top of a long stalk that arises from a leaf axis. Each plant can have several of these stalks, producing many flowers. The attractive, pagoda-like flowers and seed heads are often used in cut flower arrangements.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: All parts of the plant are toxic if ingested. It also has the ability to absorb and retain other toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides and pollutants.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Astragalus
- Species:
- canadensis
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wildflower
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada to U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant for the Western Tailed Blue. Bumblebees, honeybees, and other long tongues bees frequent the flowers. Birds, including wild turkey, eat the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Wildlife Larval Host
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits consist of a stout, two-chambered, oval pod with a long, pointed tip which resembles a tail. It will split open when dry.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- This plant has slender, pea-like flowers. Each raceme can produce up to 75 flowers. Some are a mixture of the following colors: light yellow, light green, cream, and white.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has slightly hairy, small, oval, leaflets in 7-15 pairs. The 1/2" wide leaflets taper towards the end of the leaf.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Typically, multistemmed. The rigid stems are slightly hairy. They will turn red in strong sun.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Horses
