Two-grooved Milkvetch
Astragalus bisulcatus
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Two-grooved Milkvetch (Astragalus bisulcatus) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Two-grooved Milkvetch is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats by the USDA ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
12"–36" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul
Native to
AZ, CO, ID, KS and 9 more states
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaPicture natives in your own yard
Upload a photo of your yard and Patch Vision shows a rendering of it planted with natives for your region, like Two-grooved Milkvetch.
Browse plants for this ecoregion
An upright, clumping legume with pinnately divided leaves and dense spikes of reddish-purple pea flowers, followed by grooved seed pods. Grows in dry, open grassland and shrubland soils.
In an HOA neighborhood
Two-grooved Milkvetch is an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 3 out of 5.
Works well in: backyard habitat areas, meadow plantings.
- Foliage can have a strong odor.
Wildlife value
Early summer flower spikes provide nectar and pollen for native bees.
Common questions
- How much sun does Two-grooved Milkvetch need?
- Two-grooved Milkvetch grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Two-grooved Milkvetch bloom?
- Two-grooved Milkvetch blooms in May, June, and July.
- Where is Two-grooved Milkvetch native?
- Two-grooved Milkvetch (Astragalus bisulcatus) is native to AZ, CO, ID, KS and 9 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Two-grooved Milkvetch toxic to livestock?
- Two-grooved Milkvetch is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats by the USDA ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
- What pollinators does Two-grooved Milkvetch attract?
- Two-grooved Milkvetch draws bees.
- Is Two-grooved Milkvetch HOA-friendly?
- Two-grooved Milkvetch is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Two-grooved Milkvetch? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.