Species Pretty Milk Vetch
purple-white flowers with purple-green sepals, green leaves and stems

Pretty Milk Vetch

Astragalus eucosmus

Also Known As - Elegant Milkvetch
Pretty Milk Vetch is a herbaceous perennial plant, native to the Rocky Mountains of North America. It has smooth, gray-green stems and can reach up to 60 cm tall. Its leaves are compound with up to 10 leaflets. Each leaflet is oblong and can measure up to 1 cm in length. They are glaucous and densely hairy on both surfaces. The fragrant flowers are white and clustered in racemes that bloom from April-June. The root is nitrogen-fixing and medicinal. It is used to treat liver problems and as a natural expectorant. Pretty Milk Vetch adds beauty to any garden with its attractive foliage and flowers.

Watering:

Minimal

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

brown,tan Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Pretty Milk Vetch prefers well-drained soil that is evenly moist but not soggy. Water your plant deeply when the top inch of soil is dry. During spring and summer, water your plant on average once a week, potentially increasing to twice a week in periods of hot weather. During the colder months, reduce watering to once every 2 weeks or when the top of the soil is mostly dry.

sunlight

Pretty Milk Vetch thrives best in direct sunlight for 4–6 hours per day. This plant prefers full sun in the morning, with shade in the late afternoon or evening, especially in hot summers. It can tolerate some shade, but it will not be as vigorous or produce as many flowers. Plant in an area of the garden that receives at least 6 hours of sun each day, preferably in the morning.

pruning

Pretty Milk Vetch should be pruned in late spring or early summer when the new growth is seen. The pruning should be fairly light in order to maintain the natural shape of the plant, aiming to remove about 1/3 of the growth. Doing so promotes new growth while keeping the foliage looking full and lush. It is important to monitor for any signs of disease or pests after pruning as these can spread quickly. If any are found, take the necessary steps to eliminate them and prune away any affected areas. This helps to maintain the health of your Pretty Milk Vetch.

Season

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

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Astragalus eucosmus is usually in July or August.