Astragalus pachypus var. pachypus

Bush milkvetch, Bush Milkvetch

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Bush milkvetch is a California native perennial found in the Tehachapi Mountains, southern San Joaquin Valley, southern Coastal Range Interior, western Transverse Ranges, and western edge of the Desert at elevations of 500 to 1,900 meters in open areas and scrub, often growing on gravelly clay, shale, and sandstone. Flowering from March to July, this plant produces small white to pale purple flowers in compact clusters. Growing with spreading to ascending stems 15 to 45 centimeters tall, it forms a low, somewhat woody base. Its compound leaves have 11 to 21 leaflets, each small and densely arranged along the stem, giving the plant a delicate, feathery appearance. In rocky, well-drained habitats, bush milkvetch thrives in challenging landscapes where few other plants can establish themselves.

Habitat: Open areas or scrub, often on gravelly clay, shale, sandstone

Bloom period: Mar-Jul

Elevation: 500-1900 m

Bioregions: Teh, s SnJV, SCoRI, WTR, w edge D.

California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Diego

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.