Astragalus californicus
Klamath milkvetch
(c) Steve Matson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus californicus (Klamath milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by robust branched habit, cream flowers, narrow compressed pods.
Klamath milkvetch is a California native perennial found in eastern Klamath Ranges, northern California Ranges, and Modoc Plateau in dry, open areas of scrub and woodland at elevations generally below 1,550 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces cream-colored flowers with banners recurved at nearly 45 degrees, creating delicate cream-colored blossoms in clusters of 10 to 30. Growing with clumped, ascending stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall and widely branched, it forms robust, open clusters with wavy, grayish hairs. Its compound leaves feature 13 to 23 narrowly oblanceolate leaflets, each 5 to 20 millimeters long with obtuse or bluntly notched tips. The fruit is a distinctive linear oblong pod, 27 to 43 millimeters long, hanging pendulously with a stiff-papery texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; robust branched habit, cream flowers, narrow compressed pods
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open areas in scrub, woodland
Elevation: generally < 1550 m
California counties: Siskiyou, Modoc, Santa Barbara, Nevada, Shasta
Outside California: southern Oregon
Bloom period
Astragalus californicus blooms Apr-Jul.
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 californicus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus californicus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus californicus bloom?
Astragalus californicus blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Astragalus californicus grow?
Astragalus californicus occurs in Siskiyou, Modoc, Santa Barbara, Nevada, Shasta, at elevations of generally < 1550 m.
What plant family does Astragalus californicus belong to?
Astragalus californicus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus californicus grow in?
Astragalus californicus grows in Dry, open areas in scrub, woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.