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Herbaceous Perennial

Astragalus alpinus

alpine milk vetch

An herbaceous perennial, with a low-growing, spreading and mat-forming habit, growing to a height of 10-30cm with a spread to 50cm. The green leaves are pinnate, with multiple small, oval-shaped leaflets. The foliage is fine-textured giving the plant a feathery appearance. It produces clusters of delicate, tubular shaped violet to pale blue flowers in June to August

Other common names

mountain milk vetch

Synonyms

Phaca astragalina

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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Fabaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Matforming, Trailing
Genus: Astragalus can be annuals or perennials, with usually pinnate leaves and pink, purple, yellow or white pea-flowers in terminal or axillary racemes or spikes
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice

Propagation

Sow seeds in containers in an open frame in autumn or after stratification in spring. Pot up seedlings separately as soon as the first true leaf appears; they resent root distrubance later and may die. For more information see sowing seeds outdoors

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Rock garden
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens
Banks and slopes

Pruning

For more information see cutting back herbaceous perennials

Pests

Maybe susceptible to pea and bean weevil

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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