Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Astragalus douglasii is a species of milkvetch known by the common name Douglas' milkvetch. It is native to California and Baja California, where it can be found in many types of desert, valley, chaparral and woodlands, and montane habitats. Astragalus douglasii is a bushy perennial herb producing a number of erect or prostrate stems up to a meter long. The abundant leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of oval-shaped leaflets. The open inflorescence holds up to 30 whitish to pale yellow flowers, each about a centimeter long. Astragalus douglasii is a bushy perennial herb producing a number of erect or prostrate stems up to a meter long. The abundant leaves are up to 18 centimeters long and are made up of oval-shaped leaflets. The open inflorescence holds up to 30 whitish to pale yellow flowers, each about a centimeter long. The fruit is an inflated legume pod up to 6 centimeters long and 3 wide which dries to a thin, papery texture. Varieties: There are three varieties of Astragalus douglasii:A. d. var. douglasii - limited to CaliforniaA. d. var. parishii (Parish's milkvetch) - found throughout the mountain ranges of Southern CaliforniaA. d. var. perstrictus (Jacumba milkvetch) - rare variety limited to San Diego County, California, and northern Baja California

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

8 - 40 in Tall

Calscape icon
Color

Yellow, White

Plant communities

Foothill Woodland, Joshua Tree Woodland, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

3 confirmed and 22 likely

Confirmed Likely

Harford's Sulphur

Colias harfordii

Western Tailed-Blue

Cupido amyntula

Alfalfa Looper Moth

Autographa californica