Astragalus douglasii
Douglas milkvetch
(c) Millie Basden, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Millie Basden · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus douglasii (Douglas milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by large bladdery fruits 25-60 mm.
Douglas milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in dry, open habitats at elevations ranging from low to moderate landscapes. Flowering from late spring to summer, this plant produces delicate white to pale yellow flowers in loose clusters of 10 to 30 blossoms, with banner petals recurved at a dramatic 60 to 90 degree angle. Growing with many stems that are decumbent or erect and reaching 20 to 100 centimeters tall, the plant has a leafy appearance with a strigose (minutely hairy) texture. Its compound leaves feature 7 to 25 leaflets, each 5 to 25 millimeters long, with elliptic, ovate, or obovate shapes and obtuse or shallowly notched tips. The distinctive fruit is a bladdery pod 25 to 60 millimeters long, spreading or ascending, with an erect, pointed beak and sparse hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; large bladdery fruits 25-60 mm
Habitat and range
California counties: Kern, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Madera, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Ventura, Nevada, Fresno, Yolo, Merced, Imperial, Stanislaus, Kings
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 douglasii native to California?
Yes. Astragalus douglasii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Astragalus douglasii grow?
Astragalus douglasii occurs in Kern, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and other counties.
What plant family does Astragalus douglasii belong to?
Astragalus douglasii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
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.