Astragalus exscapus

Astragalus exscapus is a small perennial in the pea family, Fabaceae. Its range covers parts of central, eastern and southern Europe. Records also extend into Turkey. It grows in steppe and foothill sites on limestone soils. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In gardens, it reaches about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall. Its low size suits a place in a cultivated bed.

This plant forms a small sub-shrub with woody stems. These stems die back almost to ground level each winter. Flowers appear from July to August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees, moths and butterflies pollinate the flowers. The supplied species account gives no leaf or fruit details. Root nodules house bacteria that take nitrogen from the air. The plant uses some of this nitrogen for growth. Nearby plants may also gain some benefit from this partnership.

Give it full sun and dry soil with good drainage. It does not grow in shade. Sandy soil and loam both suit its needs. It can also grow where soil nutrients are low. It accepts mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline soil. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8. Avoid disturbing the roots when planting or moving it. Set young plants in their final sites while still small. Its winter stem loss is part of its stated growth pattern.

Seed offers a means of raising new plants. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame when ripe. Stored seed may benefit from a spell of cold treatment. PFAF also describes soaking seed before sowing. Use hot water with care to avoid damaging the seed. Germination can be uneven and may take several weeks. Treated or fresh seed may sprout after four to nine weeks. Some seed takes longer, even under the stated conditions.

PFAF lists no known edible uses for this species. It records a past medicinal use for syphilitic sores. That record does not establish a safe or effective treatment. The stems yield a gum known as morea tragacanth. Reported uses include thickening inks, glues, paints and textile dyes. It also serves as a binder in paper making. PFAF does not flag the species as weedy. The supplied evidence does not establish species-specific toxicity or pest problems.