Plant · P-1152

Liquorice Milkvetch

Astragalus glycyphyllos

Liquorice Milkvetch is a low, clump-forming perennial in the pea family that fixes its own nitrogen and doubles as pasture fodder or a hay cut for livestock. Bees, moths and butterflies work its flowers through mid and late summer, and it tucks in as ground cover in full sun. The root is sometimes chewed as a mild liquorice substitute, though the leaves and pods are barely worth eating. It resents being moved once established, so it goes into its final spot as a small plant rather than being divided later.