Hedysarum occidentale aka Western Sweetvetch

Hedysarum occidentale belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. This perennial lives for more than one year. People call it western chainpod or western sweetvetch. Kew gives its native range as Vancouver Island into the northwestern United States. The range also reaches the west-central United States. Reports list Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. It grows in temperate lands, but is not native to Britain or Ireland.

PFAF lists its height as about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres]. It gives a spread of about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. A long, fleshy taproot grows deep into the soil. Young roots are more tender than old roots. Root nodules fix nitrogen and help make nearby soil richer. Wild plants grow on open ground, often in dry, rocky soil. They grow from plains to about 8,530 feet [2,600 metres]. They also live in mountain meadows and grasslands. Open woods of conifers provide another place for them to grow.

PFAF gives the bloom season as July to August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the blooms as they visit for food. Deer, elk and livestock feed on the leaves. The sources do not state the flowers' colour or the fruit's form. Nor do they give clear facts about leaves or stems.

Grow western chainpod in full sun, in soil that drains well. PFAF says it can cope with light shade. Yet its main profile rules out shade. Sand, loam and clay can suit it if they drain well. It accepts soil that is mildly acid or mildly alkaline. Neutral soil suits it too. Moist soil in spring helps it grow. Once plants take hold, they can cope with drought. PFAF lists USDA zones 4–8 and says it tolerates cold winters. Take care with roots, as plants dislike having them disturbed. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame, or sow in spring. First soak stored seed in warm water for 24 hours.

Western chainpod has uses in planted beds and native food gardens. Its roots fix nitrogen, which adds value to restoration planting. Indigenous peoples have eaten the roots raw or cooked. PFAF reports no recorded poisoning from roots prepared in traditional ways. You must know the plant's identity: some toxic plants look like it. This evidence does not prove all parts safe, or show safety for pets. PFAF gives no medicinal-use rating and reports no weed potential. The sources name no specific pests or diseases.