Astragalus miguelensis
San miguel island milkvetch, San Miguel Island Milkvetch
(c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Astragalus miguelensis (San miguel island milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by dense woolly hairs and coastal habitat.
San miguel island milkvetch is a native perennial found in southern Channel Islands and southern Central Coast bioregions on coastal slopes, bluffs, and beaches at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces white to yellow flowers in dense clusters with 10 to 30 blooms. Growing with ascending stems 10 to 40 centimeters tall and covered in dense, short, woolly grayish hairs, it develops an open habit. Its compound leaves feature 17 to 27 narrow leaflets 6 to 22 millimeters long, each with blunt or slightly notched tips. The distinctive fruit is a spreading, papery pod 16 to 26 millimeters long with fine hairs, giving the plant a delicate coastal appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; distinguished by dense woolly hairs and coastal habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Slopes, bluffs, coastal beaches
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo
Bloom period
Astragalus miguelensis blooms Mar-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 miguelensis native to California?
Yes. Astragalus miguelensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus miguelensis bloom?
Astragalus miguelensis blooms Mar-Jul.
Where in California does Astragalus miguelensis grow?
Astragalus miguelensis occurs in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Astragalus miguelensis belong to?
Astragalus miguelensis is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus miguelensis rare or endangered?
Astragalus miguelensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus minthorniae var. villosus — Minthorn's milkvetch
- Astragalus mohavensis — Mohave locoweed
- Astragalus mohavensis var. hemigyrus — Curved-pod milkvetch
- Astragalus mohavensis var. mohavensis — Mojave milkvetch
- Astragalus monoensis — Mono milkvetch
- Astragalus nevinii — San clemente island milkvetch
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.