Astragalus bernardinus
San bernardino milkvetch, San Bernardino milk-vetch, San Bernardino milk-vetch
(c) Melanie J. Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2
Astragalus bernardinus (San bernardino milkvetch) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by twining habit and narrow channeled pods distinctive.
San bernardino milkvetch is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native perennial found in the San Bernardino Mountains and New York and Ivanpah Mountains in stony desert shrub and juniper areas at elevations of 900 to 2,300 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pale to dark lilac flowers with banner petals 7 to 10 millimeters long, often ascending among sagebrush. Growing with slender stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it often twines delicately among desert shrubs with a wiry, sparsely leafy structure. Its compound leaves feature 7 to 19 leaflets, each 4 to 20 millimeters long and lance-shaped with acute or notched tips. The fruit develops as an ascending, pale, papery pod 20 to 30 millimeters long and 4 to 5 millimeters wide, typically straight or slightly curved.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 50 sympatric species; twining habit and narrow channeled pods distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Stony areas among desert shrubs, junipers
Elevation: 900-2300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo
Bloom period
Astragalus bernardinus blooms Apr-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Vicia: Astragalus has racemes of flowers; vetches (Vicia) have tendrils at leaf tips and climbing or sprawling habit.; vs Oxytropis: Astragalus keel tip is rounded to slightly pointed; Oxytropis keel has a pronounced pointed beak.; vs Cleomella: Astragalus has pea-shaped flowers; Cleomella has 4-petaled cruciform flowers with long stamens.; vs Lupinus: Astragalus has pinnate compound leaves; lupines have palmate leaves (leaflets radiating from one point).; vs Dalea: Astragalus has typical pea flowers; Dalea has tiny flowers with petals attached to the stamen tube.
Frequently asked questions
Is Astragalus bernardinus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus bernardinus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus bernardinus bloom?
Astragalus bernardinus blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus bernardinus grow?
Astragalus bernardinus occurs in San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo, at elevations of 900-2300 m.
What plant family does Astragalus bernardinus belong to?
Astragalus bernardinus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus bernardinus rare or endangered?
Astragalus bernardinus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.