Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi
Newberry's milkvetch
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi (Newberry's milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by large flowers and long white woolly fruit hairs.
Newberry's milkvetch is a California native perennial found in the eastern Sierra Nevada and northeastern Mojave Desert in rocky pinyon and juniper woodlands at elevations of 1,300 to 2,350 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces pink-purple to white flowers with pink-purple tips, the banner petals 21.5 to 30 millimeters long and recurved about 40 degrees. Growing in dense tufts with silky, partly spreading hairs, it forms clumps with persistent old leaf bases. Its compound leaves are 1.5 to 15 centimeters long, featuring 3 to 15 leaflets that are obovate, 5 to 20 millimeters long, with acute or blunt tips that may be slightly notched. The distinctive fruit is an ovate pod 13 to 28 millimeters long, densely covered in white, woolly hairs that are 2 to 4.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 36 sympatric species; distinguished by large flowers and long white woolly fruit hairs
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky areas, especially pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1300-2350 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Siskiyou
Outside California: to Oregon, Utah, New Mexico
Bloom period
Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi blooms Apr-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 newberryi var. newberryi native to California?
Yes. Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi bloom?
Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi grow?
Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Inyo, Siskiyou, at elevations of 1300-2350 m.
What plant family does Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi belong to?
Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi grow in?
Astragalus newberryi var. newberryi grows in Rocky areas, especially pinyon/juniper woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Astragalus nutans — Providence mountains milkvetch
- Astragalus nuttallianus — Small-flowered milkvetch
- Astragalus nuttallianus var. austrinus — Smallflowered milkvetch
- Astragalus nuttallianus var. cedrosensis — Cedros milkvetch
- Astragalus nuttallianus var. imperfectus — Turkey peas
- Astragalus nuttallii — Nuttall's 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.