Canada Milkvetch

Canada Milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis)

Natural History

Canada Milkvetch is a member of the Pea Family.

It grows to 31 inches in height and has green oval to lance-shaped leaflets which grow in pairs of 13-29 to 6 inches in length. It grows in open meadows and clearings in coniferous forests along roadside ditches and near creeks and lakeshores.

Canada Milkvetch is somewhat toxic, but it has been used medicinally by Native Americans.

Canada Milkvetch blooms between June - September and produces whitish to pale yellow or greenish pea-like flowers to 0.75 inches in length. Flowers are followed by a fruit pod to 0.75 inches in length.

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