Species Two Grooved Milk Vetch
Purple-pink flowers and green leaves on red-green stems.

Two Grooved Milk Vetch

Astragalus bisulcatus var. bisulcatus

Two Grooved Milk Vetch is a perennial legume native to much of North America. It is a low-growing, spreading plant growing to heights of up to 6 inches. Its stems have two sharp grooves running along their length. The leaves are compound, with up to 16 small oval leaflets. In the late spring and early summer, it bears clusters of small lilac or pinkish-purple flowers. These flowers attract various pollinators and give way to small, curved seed pods. Growing in meadows, prairies and other dry areas, Two Grooved Milk Vetch provides forage for livestock and is an important food source for several species of butterfly and bee.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

brown,tan Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Watering your Two Grooved Milk Vetch (Astragalus bisulcatus var. bisulcatus) is critical to the health and vigor of the plant. Water your plant deeply and less frequently, allowing the soil to dry out between irrigations. Water your Two Grooved Milk Vetch plants when the top 2 to 4 inches of soil is dry. During the hotter summer months, you may need to water your plants 2 to 3 times per week, and during the cooler fall and winter months you may need to water only once every week or 2. Water your plant in the morning before the temperatures increase and the plant becomes stressed by the heat. Always water thoroughly, saturating the soil but avoiding runoff.

sunlight

Two Grooved Milk Vetch (Astragalus bisulcatus var. bisulcatus) does best when exposed to full sun, or 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. This species does not tolerate shade and should not be planted if there is an area of moderate to deep shade during the day. They should be planted in a location that receives full sun for the entirety of the day. This species can be grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9.

pruning

Two Grooved Milk Vetch should be pruned in late spring or early summer, after flowering has ended. Prune only when the plant is healthy and vigorous to avoid stressing it. Pruning should be done by cutting flowering stems close to the base of the plant, usually about 1 to 2 inches from the ground. This will stimulate new growth from the primary stems and keep the plant from becoming too dense. Pruning should also be done selectively - removing old, woody stems or dormant flower heads. Too much pruning could limit flowering and disrupt natural shape of the plant.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

Harvesting of Astragalus bisulcatus var. bisulcatus typically begins in July and continues through August.