Species Three Leaf Milk Vetch
white-yellow flowers, yellow buds with silver-green leaves and light-brown stems

Three Leaf Milk Vetch

Astragalus gilviflorus

Also Known As - Plains Milk Vetch
Three Leaf Milk Vetch (Astragalus gilviflorus) is a perennial plant native to the North American prairies. It has trifoliate leaves and gray-green stems that can reach up to 2 feet in height. It produces small yellow flowers during the winter and spring months, and the pods turn black when ripe in late spring and early summer. Its roots contain several medicinally beneficial compounds, which are said to possess numerous healing properties. The plant can be used in landscaping and enjoys full sun exposure for optimal growth. Its fragrant flowers make it excellent for pollinator gardens, adding both texture and color.

Watering:

Minimal

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

brown,tan Fruits Ready In Summer

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Flexile Milkvetch needs regular watering and should be watered regularly throughout the growing season, from late spring to mid-autumn. When watering, the soil should be kept moist, but not overwatered. To water, provide 1-2 inches of water once a week, always checking the soil to ensure it's not too dry or too drenched. In the wintertime, reduce watering to once a month and make sure that the soil around the plant is allowed to dry out between waterings. If soil is left too saturated for too long, the plant may rot.

sunlight

Flexile Milkvetch (Astragalus flexuosus) prefers full to partial sunlight. It should be grown in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunshine each day. Furthermore, it prefers the morning and early evening sunlight to be the most intense when it comes to light exposure. Since this species needs the light energy for photosynthesis, it’s best to not shade the plants too much. Partial afternoon shade can help to protect the plants from the harshest sun and high temperatures.

pruning

Flexile milkvetch (Astragalus flexuosus) should be pruned twice a year, once in late winter or early spring and once again in late summer or early autumn. Pruning in late winter/spring should focus on removing overgrown, dead, crossing, and excess vegetation in the plant. This helps to promote the growth of healthy, stronger stems which provides the plant with more resources for leaf and flower production. Pruning in late summer/early autumn should include removing any dead flowers, as well as any weak or dying branches. This will encourage stronger stems for next year's flowers. Pruning should be done carefully, taking into account the natural shape of the plant, and using proper pruning methods, such as cutting back to the comparable branch that is intact. Pruning more than twice a year is not recommended, as this can cause the plant to become weak and vulnerable to stress.

⚠️ Perenual and its members cannot be held liable for any health issues that may arise from the information provided on the website or from using any of the plants found on the site. The information provided is intended to be used as general guidelines only.