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Astragalus whitneyi

Balloonpod Milkvetch · Whitney's Milkvetch · Balloon Milk-vetch

Family FabaceaeGenus Astragalus

Inflated papery pods mottled crimson and cream lying on bare gravel among small gray-green pinnate leaves
FruitHeptazaneCC BY 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Native range
California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, WashingtonGBIF Backbone Taxonomy

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Balloon-pod milk-vetch, of the Cascade Range and the Sierra Nevada, is unusual for its bright red or red-splotched, balloon-like seed pods. Wikipedia: Astragalus whitneyi

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 42 days to germinate.

83% germination in 7–42 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Astragalus p. 105Public domain
Show the original text
Astragalus (Fabaceae). It is probable that impervious seed coats are generally present and immediate germination is best achieved by making a hole in the seed coat. However, some germination was achieved in early work without any treatment. A. sp. Alps, A. sp. Colorado, A. sp. Utah, and A. sp. Wyoming germ. some in 2-6 w at 70 and A. whitneyi germ. 70(83% in 1-6 w) and 40(65% in 3-8 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Astragalus p. 105. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1, in 56 days.

65% germination in 21–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Astragalus p. 105Public domain
Show the original text
Astragalus (Fabaceae). It is probable that impervious seed coats are generally present and immediate germination is best achieved by making a hole in the seed coat. However, some germination was achieved in early work without any treatment. A. sp. Alps, A. sp. Colorado, A. sp. Utah, and A. sp. Wyoming germ. some in 2-6 w at 70 and A. whitneyi germ. 70(83% in 1-6 w) and 40(65% in 3-8 w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Astragalus p. 105. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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