Astragalus palmeri
Palmer locoweed
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Astragalus palmeri (Palmer locoweed) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by pink-purple flowers and beaked fruits.
Palmer locoweed is a California native perennial found in the southern Peninsular Ranges, southwestern Mojave Desert Mountains, and western edge of the Sonoran Desert in sandy or rocky places at elevations of 150 to 1,650 meters. Flowering from December to June, this plant produces pink-purple to cream flowers with purple veins, with banner petals 7 to 10 millimeters long that curve back at a 90-degree angle. Growing with decumbent stems 20 to 50 centimeters long, it forms a low, open, and widely branched habit that is sparsely to densely covered in silvery strigose hairs. Its leaves are 2 to 16 centimeters long, composed of 9 to 21 leaflets that are approximately 5 to 25 millimeters long and widely elliptic in shape. The fruit is a moderately to strongly inflated ovate pod 10 to 25 millimeters long, with a short erect beak about one-fifth to one-third the length of the pod body.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 21 sympatric species; key features are pink-purple flowers and beaked fruits
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or rocky places
Elevation: 150-1650 m
California counties: San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, Los Angeles
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Astragalus palmeri blooms Dec-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 palmeri native to California?
Yes. Astragalus palmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus palmeri bloom?
Astragalus palmeri blooms Dec-Jun.
Where in California does Astragalus palmeri grow?
Astragalus palmeri occurs in San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, at elevations of 150-1650 m.
What plant family does Astragalus palmeri belong to?
Astragalus palmeri is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
What habitat does Astragalus palmeri grow in?
Astragalus palmeri grows in Sandy or rocky places.
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.