Canada Milk Vetch is a stately and vigorous legume that adds both structural beauty and ecological depth to the native garden. This perennial typically grows 1 to 4 feet tall, producing upright spikes of creamy, greenish-white pea-like flowers from mid to late summer. Its attractive pinnately compound leaves provide a lush, textured backdrop for the blooms. Native to a wide range of habitats across North America, from moist meadows to dry prairies, it is highly adaptable but prefers full sun and medium moisture. As a nitrogen-fixing plant, it naturally improves soil health, making it an excellent choice for restoration projects. It is a vital resource for bumblebees and serves as a host plant for several butterfly species, including the Silver-spotted Skipper. While it can spread via rhizomes, it is generally not considered invasive. Seeds have a hard coat and benefit from scarification followed by cold stratification.

Quick facts

• Height: 1–4 ft
• Sun: Full to Partial
• Soil moisture: Medium-Wet to Dry
• Bloom time: Jun–Aug (Cream)
• Life cycle: Perennial
• Notes: Legume, Rhizomatous
• Native range: Native to 42 states, including Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska

See the full growing guide and county range map for Canada Milk Vetch