About
Astragalus alpinus is a herbaceous perennial that exhibits a low, spreading growth habit, reaching heights of 10 to 30 cm and extending up to 50 cm in width. Its foliage consists of pinnate leaves adorned with numerous small, oval leaflets, creating a fine texture that imparts a feathery look. From June to August, this plant bears clusters of slender, tubular flowers that range in color from violet to pale blue.
About the genus
Astragalus species can be either annual or perennial plants, characterized by typically pinnate leaves. The flowers, which resemble those of peas, may be pink, purple, yellow, or white and are borne in terminal or axillary racemes or spikes.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Matforming, Trailing
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- Rock garden, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun. See Creating wildflower meadows for further advice
- Pruning
- For more information see cutting back herbaceous perennials
- 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
- Pest resistance
- Maybe susceptible to pea and bean weevil
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free