Groundplum Milkvetch, Ground Plum, Buffalo Plum
Astragalus crassicarpus (Groundplum Milkvetch) is a low-growing, bushy perennial with stems sprawling along the ground and rising at their tips. They are clothed with compound, blue-green leaves with 15-20 elliptic leaflets. In late spring to early summer, showy racemes of 5-15 pea-shaped flowers in shades of pinkish purple, lavender or blue-violet appear on stalks arising from the leaf axils. Rich in nectar, they attract butterflies and other useful pollinators. They are followed by smooth round pods that ripen to purple, and resemble plums. The unripe, inflated pea pod is edible and was used by Native Americans as food and horse medicine. Since many species in the legume family are toxic, you should never eat wild plants unless you have a positive ID. Groundplum Milkvetch is ephemeral and goes dormant by midsummer. Great for the rock garden, on top of a rock wall, or in a raised bed, it is a valuable plant for dry areas.
| Hardiness |
3 - 6 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Leguminosae |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early) |
| Height |
10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm) |
| Spread |
10" - 2' (25cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing |
10" - 18" (25cm - 50cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Southeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden |
| Hardiness |
3 - 6 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Perennials |
| Plant Family | Leguminosae |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Late) Summer (Early) |
| Height |
10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm) |
| Spread |
10" - 2' (25cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing |
10" - 18" (25cm - 50cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low, Average |
| Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Southeast, Midwest, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming |
| Attracts | Butterflies |
| Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden |
How many Astragalus crassicarpus (Groundplum Milkvetch) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Astragalus crassicarpus (Groundplum Milkvetch) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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