Species Woollypod Milkvetch
purple flowers with brown-green buds, grey-green leaves and red stems

Woollypod Milkvetch

Astragalus purshii var. purshii

Woollypod Milkvetch (Astragalus purshii var. purshii) is a flowering plant native to the desert regions of North America. Its paired, leathery leaves are covered in short hairs, giving the plant a distinctive woolly texture. These perennials grow in a low-lying clump and produce cute yellow-green flowers in the spring. The edible seed pods were used by many Indigenous peoples as a nutritious source of food and clothing fiber. Today, Woollypod Milkvetch enjoys conservation status and its populations remain relatively stable.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Fruits:

brown,tan Fruits Ready In Summer

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Woolly Pod Milkvetch requires an average amount of water when starting out. During the growing season, this plant should be watered once a week for about 10 minutes. It needs approximately 1 inch of water during that time. During the winter it should be watered about every other week with the same amount of water listed for the growing season. It is important to only water this plant when the top inch or 2 of soil is dry. This will help to prevent overwatering.

sunlight

Woollypod milkvetch is a hardy perennial native to North America. It is adapted to thrive in dry and windy environments and does best in full sun exposures of at least 6 hours per day. Woollypod milkvetch benefits from full sun exposure in the early morning hours, when the hottest temperatures of the day may have yet to arrive. During the hottest period of the day, midday from 11am-3pm, it may be beneficial to place Woollypod milkvetch in a location that receives more filtered sunlight.

pruning

Woolly Milkvetch can be pruned to control its growth and shape. Pruning can be done in early spring, late spring, summer, fall, and early winter. In early spring, prune off dead branches and flowers to shape the plant. Late spring is the ideal time for thinning out dense growth as well as removing any dead or damaged branches. Summer pruning includes light shaping of the canopy and removal of any dead or broken branches. In fall prune off the dead seed pods and remove any weakened branches to make way for new growth. Lastly, early winter is the best time for hard pruning to shape the plant and can include the removal of up to half of the plant’s existing foliage.

Season

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

Harvesting of Woollypod Milkvetch typically begins in July and continues through August.