Bloomipedia
Laxmann's milkvetch (Astragalus laxmannii)
Photo: stenarmer52 via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Laxmann's milkvetch

Astragalus laxmannii

Native to North Dakota

Laxmann's milkvetch is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states.

15states
140ND sightings*
1,883U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: North Dakota

Quick look

Astragalus laxmannii, the standing milkvetch, Tanana milkvetch, or Laxmann's milkvetch, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is native to Kazakhstan, Siberia, Mongolia, China, Korea, Japan, Canada, and the northwestern and north-central United States. A perennial reaching 16 in (41 cm), it is typically found in dry soils with little organic content in otherwise wetter areas.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 15 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to North Dakota. NatureServe
  • iNaturalist has 140 research-grade sightings of it in North Dakota, ranking #50 among the 109 flowers on our North Dakota list. iNaturalist

Laxmann's milkvetch gift ideas

Handmade laxmann's milkvetch gifts from independent makers.

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When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month in North Dakota (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (15 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: IA (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsToxic to horses

ASPCA's entry “Loco Weed (Astragalus spp.)” (Astragalus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to horses. Signs include: Incoordination, depression, inability to eat and drink, fetal death and birth defects Credit: Image Courtesy of Gary Coffman, PBase.com Gallery… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records laxmann's milkvetch in 15 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

North Dakota counties with USDA records: Adams, Barnes, Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, LaMoure, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ransom, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Ward, Wells, Williams.

More North Dakota flowers

White clover (Trifolium repens)

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Few flowering records in ND
Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Few flowering records in ND
Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Bird's-foot trefoil

Lotus corniculatus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in ND: June–October

Sources