Plant DetailShow Menu

Astragalus canadensis is often confused with:
Oxytropis small tufted plant in dry gravel
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Trillium pusillum Close up of flower
Verbena canadensis Verbena canadensis
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea

Astragalus canadensis

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:
#drought tolerant#legume#bumblebee friendly#NC native#perennial flowers#deer browsing plant#rhizomes#thickets#cutting garden#floral arrangement#pollinator plant#clay soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#problem for horses#rabbit browsing plant#shade intolerant#coastal plant#perennial#wildflower
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#legume#bumblebee friendly#NC native#perennial flowers#deer browsing plant#rhizomes#thickets#cutting garden#floral arrangement#pollinator plant#clay soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#problem for horses#rabbit browsing plant#shade intolerant#coastal plant#perennial#wildflower
  • 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
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Medium
    Poison Symptoms:
    Incoordination, depression, inability to eat and drink, fetal death and birth defects
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Locoism
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems