Astragalus subvestitus
Kern county milkvetch, Kern County Milkvetch
(c) Katie Pearson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Astragalus subvestitus (Kern county milkvetch) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by distinctive matted cushion growth and woolly gray appearance diagnostic.
Kern county milkvetch is a California native perennial ranked 4.3 by CNPS, found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in Tulare and Kern counties, growing in gravelly and sandy sagebrush habitats at elevations of 1,500 to 2,650 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces white to lilac flowers with pink-tipped keel petals, the banner petal curving about 40 degrees. Growing in dense, matted clusters with prostrate stems 1 to 8 centimeters long, it forms woolly gray mounds with curly hairs. Its compound leaves range 1.5 to 6.5 centimeters long, featuring 7 to 13 elliptic or obovate leaflets measuring 2 to 9 millimeters. The stiff-papery fruit is ascending, ovate, and compressed, with dense curly hairs and an erect or incurved triangular beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 30 sympatric species; distinctive matted cushion growth and woolly gray appearance diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Gravel, sand, in sagebrush
Elevation: 1500-2650 m
California counties: Tulare, Kern
Bloom period
Astragalus subvestitus blooms Jun-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 subvestitus native to California?
Yes. Astragalus subvestitus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Astragalus subvestitus bloom?
Astragalus subvestitus blooms Jun-Jul.
Where in California does Astragalus subvestitus grow?
Astragalus subvestitus occurs in Tulare, Kern, at elevations of 1500-2650 m.
What plant family does Astragalus subvestitus belong to?
Astragalus subvestitus is in the Fabaceae family, genus Astragalus.
Is Astragalus subvestitus rare or endangered?
Astragalus subvestitus carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.