Astragalus crassicarpus (Groundplum Milkvetch)
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.
- Grows up to 12 in. tall (30 cm) and 10-18 in. wide (25-45 cm).
- Performs best in full sun to part shade in rocky or gravelly, dry to medium, well-drained soils.
- Generally pest and disease free.
- Relatively easy to grow from seed.
- Toxic to horses.
- Native to North America.
Buy Astragalus crassicarpus (Groundplum Milkvetch)
Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 6 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
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 – 45cm) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Southeast, Arkansas, Louisiana, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden |
Justin Meissen, Flickr
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
Hardiness | 3
– 6 |
---|---|
Plant Type | Perennials |
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 – 45cm) |
Water Needs | Low, Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Native Plants | United States, Midwest, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Southeast, Arkansas, Louisiana, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
Attracts | Butterflies |
Garden Styles | Gravel and Rock Garden |