Astragalus congdonii
Congdon's milkvetch
(c) Justin Felder, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus congdonii (Congdon's milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by coarse perennial with spreading hairs.
Congdon's milkvetch is a California native perennial found in central Sierra Nevada foothills in open, disturbed sites in scrub and woodland at elevations of 150 to 850 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces cream-colored flowers with banner petals recurved at about 45 degrees in loose clusters. Growing with ascending stems 20 to 70 centimeters tall and covered in spreading hairs, it has an often coarse appearance. Its compound leaves are 3 to 14 centimeters long with 11 to 37 leaflets that are elliptic to round, 3 to 15 millimeters long with blunt or notched tips. The distinctive fruit is a reflexed, linear pod 15 to 35 millimeters long with sparse to dense appressed and spreading hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; coarse perennial with spreading hairs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed sites in scrub, woodland
Elevation: 150-850 m
California counties: Fresno, Tulare, Mariposa, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne
Bloom period
Astragalus congdonii blooms Mar-Jun.
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 congdonii native to California?
Yes. Astragalus congdonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus congdonii bloom?
Astragalus congdonii blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus congdonii grow?
Astragalus congdonii occurs in Fresno, Tulare, Mariposa, Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne, at elevations of 150-850 m.
What plant family does Astragalus congdonii belong to?
Astragalus congdonii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus congdonii grow in?
Astragalus congdonii grows in Open, disturbed sites 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.