Deseret Milkvetch: A Rare Utah Native Worth Protecting (But Not Planting)
If you’re browsing native plant lists and stumbled upon the deseret milkvetch, you’ve discovered one of Utah’s most precious botanical treasures. But before you start planning where to plant it in your garden, there’s something important you need to know about this remarkable little shrub.
What Makes Deseret Milkvetch Special
The deseret milkvetch (Astragalus desereticus) is a small perennial shrub that rarely grows taller than 18 inches, with most plants staying well under that height. Like other members of the milkvetch family, it produces delicate pea-like flowers and has compound leaves made up of small leaflets. This low-growing native puts on a modest but charming display that perfectly suits Utah’s desert landscape.
A Plant in Peril
Here’s where things get serious: the deseret milkvetch is critically endangered. With a Global Conservation Status of S1 and a federal Threatened status, this plant is hanging on by a thread in the wild. Scientists estimate there are typically fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining, scattered across just a handful of locations.
This rarity status means that deseret milkvetch should absolutely not be collected from the wild, and commercially produced plants are essentially non-existent for good reason.
Where Does It Call Home
The deseret milkvetch is found exclusively in Utah, making it what botanists call an endemic species. It has evolved to thrive in the specific conditions of Utah’s desert valleys and foothills, where it grows in well-draining soils under arid conditions.
Why You Shouldn’t Plant It (Even If You Could)
While it might be tempting to want this rare beauty in your native plant garden, there are several compelling reasons to admire it from afar:
- Its critically endangered status means every wild plant needs protection
- It requires very specific growing conditions that are difficult to replicate
- Seeds and plants are not available through responsible commercial sources
- Garden cultivation could potentially introduce diseases or genetic contamination to wild populations
Better Alternatives for Your Native Garden
The good news is that Utah has several other beautiful native milkvetch species that are more suitable for cultivation. Consider these alternatives that will give you similar aesthetic appeal while supporting local ecosystems:
- Two-grooved milkvetch (Astragalus bisulcatus)
- Drummond’s milkvetch (Astragalus drummondii)
- Ground plum (Astragalus crassicarpus)
How You Can Help
Instead of trying to grow deseret milkvetch, here’s how you can support its conservation:
- Plant other native Utah species to support overall ecosystem health
- Support organizations working on native plant conservation
- If you’re hiking in Utah, stay on designated trails to avoid disturbing rare plant habitats
- Spread awareness about Utah’s unique endemic plants
The Bottom Line
The deseret milkvetch represents something truly special – a plant that exists nowhere else on Earth except in Utah’s unique desert landscape. While we can’t bring it into our gardens, we can appreciate its role in the ecosystem and work to ensure future generations will still be able to marvel at this botanical rarity in its natural habitat.
Sometimes the best way to love a plant is to let it be wild and free, especially when it’s fighting for survival. By choosing other native alternatives for our gardens and supporting conservation efforts, we can be part of the solution for protecting Utah’s irreplaceable natural heritage.
