Astragalus lentiginosus
Freckled milkvetch
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Astragalus lentiginosus (Freckled milkvetch) is a native California shrub in the Fabaceae family.
Freckled milkvetch is a California native perennial herb found in various bioregions across rocky, open habitats at moderate elevations. Flowering from late spring to summer, this plant produces flowers in shades of purple, cream, and white, with blooms featuring a distinctive banner petal that recurves at 30 to 50 degrees. Growing with leafy stems 10 to 15 centimeters tall, it develops a somewhat variable growth habit that can sometimes flower in its first year. Its compound leaves are characterized by 11 to 27 leaflets ranging from linear to widely ovate, giving the plant a delicate and intricate foliage structure. The fruit is a distinctive bladdery, papery pod that is generally ovate or spheric, with wide grooves above and below and a triangular, flat beak.
Habitat and range
California counties: Mono, San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, Lassen, San Benito, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Plumas, Siskiyou, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne, San Diego, Tulare, Sierra, Kings, Placer
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 lentiginosus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus lentiginosus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Astragalus lentiginosus grow?
Astragalus lentiginosus occurs in Mono, San Bernardino, Kern, Inyo, Riverside, Imperial, Los Angeles, Lassen and other counties.
What plant family does Astragalus lentiginosus belong to?
Astragalus lentiginosus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. albifolius — Northern loco milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. antonius — San antonio milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. borreganus — Borrego milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. chartaceus — Broadleaf milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. coachellae — Coachella valley milkvetch
- Astragalus lentiginosus var. floribundus — Floriferous milkvetch
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.