Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus) seeds, organic
$2.95 – $38.10
Family: Legume (Fabaceae)
Hardy to Zones 4 to 10 (mulch heavily in colder zones)
(Astragalus membranaceus = Astragalus propinquus, the Chinese herb Huang-qi, Huang qi) Herbaceous perennial native to China. Traditional usage (TCM): increase vital energy and protect against illness. Plants get quite large, flowering to 6 feet, with yellow flowers giving way to pea-like follicles. Plant is a sturdy survivor, and prefers full sun, average soil, and good drainage. Scarify seed lightly on medium grit sandpaper and soak overnight in mycoblast tea or kelp tea, which encourages eventual n-fixing nodulation. Direct seed in early spring, or give 20 days cold, moist refrigeration and then sow cool. Germ in 3 to 10 days. Gallery photo of seeds with roots extending was made possible by scarifying seeds and placing outdoors for 20 days in January, then bringing into greenhouse for germination. Thin to 6 inches apart. Plants flower yellow-white to 6 feet tall.
Packet contains 50 Seeds
1 g contains ~250 seeds
5 g contains ~1,250 seeds
10 g contains ~2,500 seeds
Certified Organically Grown
Question
Nancy –
Does anyone know if this will grow in Costa Rica (near the coast, so maybe 800′ elevation, hot, with distinct wet and dry seasons)?
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Richo Cech –
Astragalus grows almost anywhere
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blick002 –
I started these indoors and transplanted into average garden soil, full sun, zone 3. They were slow to take off the first year, being partially shaded by neighboring faster growing seedlings didn’t help. In their second year they really took off – many bloomed and set seed. A beautiful plant. I’ve neglected to mulch them, but they seem to survive just fine with the heavy blanket of snow we get.
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Kathy –
I’m in S Fla with hot sun in the early and all summer. Would it be better to plant under the oak trees rather than in full sun?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kathy,
I think full sun is OK even in S. FL. By the way, you really don’t have to cold stratify this particular batch of seed–its coming up in 7 days with just a slight sandpaper scarification and then plant warm.
Richo
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Rene Andalon Aguilar –
It is a seed that has high properties to strengthen the immune system
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Erin –
Question
Any chance astragalus can be grown in a pot?
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Admin Richo Cech –
It can, but the more room there is for the taproot the more medicine you get.
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Deborah Hall –
I have no ida where mine came from, but I’m afraid the taproot will interfere with my other plants. When would the best time to transplant? If it can be transplanted.
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Richo Cech –
Taprooted plants don’t transplant well. Astragalus is a nitrogen-fixer that is kind to other plants.
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Tim Roberts –
Whilst most taprooted things dont seen to transplant nicely, I have been stunned by how well Huang Qi has coped with being roughly pulled from pots and shoved in other places. I’ve done this a bit, and they sulk for a day then just fall back on their amazing toughness, mind you, they are only a few months old and a max of 30 to 50 cm high when doing this, so no big taproot yet.
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