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Canada Milk Vetch
Astragalus canadensis
PerennialCanada Milk Vetch
Astragalus canadensis
Tap to flip backGrowing Conditions
Light
Sun – Part Shade
Water
Dry – Medium
Soil
Loam
Size
2-4'
Bloom
Cream-White, Jun–Aug
Why Grow It
Nitrogen Fixing
Enriches your soil naturally
Pollinator Magnet
Attracts many types of pollinators
Caterpillar Host
Feeds caterpillars of native moths & butterflies
Easy to Grow
Low maintenance & beginner friendly
Did You Know?
As a legume, Canada Milk Vetch partners with soil bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen, actually enriching the soil for neighboring plants.
It is a host plant for the Eastern Tailed-Blue, Clouded Sulphur, and Western Tailed-Blue butterflies — their caterpillars feed inside the seed pods.
The plant develops an incredibly deep and extensive root system that can reach several feet underground, making established plants virtually impossible to transplant.
Wildlife Value
🐝
Bumblebees
Primary pollinators of deep tubular flowers
🦋
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Larvae feed on developing seed pods
🐦
Sparrows
Eat seeds in fall and winter
Good Companions
🌸 Purple Coneflower
🌼 Black-eyed Susan
🌿 Wild Bergamot
🌾 Big Bluestem
Planting Guide
- Scarify or soak seed overnight before planting in spring.
- Plant in full sun in average to moist soil.
- Fixes nitrogen in soil; no fertilizer needed.
Plant Details
Made with ♥ by Lu Li