Bloomipedia
White point-vetch (Oxytropis sericea)
Photo: Cecelia Alexander via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

White point-vetch

Oxytropis sericea

Native to Colorado

White point-vetch is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Colorado it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

13states
2,030CO sightings*
3,156U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Colorado

Quick look

Oxytropis sericea is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names white locoweed, white point-vetch, whitepoint crazyweed, and silky crazyweed. It is native to western North America from Yukon and British Columbia south through the Pacific Northwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the Great Plains.

  • It belongs to the Fabaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 13 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 2,030 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #81 among the 110 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist

White point-vetch gift ideas

Handmade white point-vetch gifts from independent makers.

🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.

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When does it bloom?

In Colorado, most flowering sightings come in April–July.

Flowering records by month in Colorado (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (130 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: ND (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsToxic to horses (not dogs or cats)

ASPCA's entry “Loco Weed (Oxytropis spp.)” (Oxytropis spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to horses, but non-toxic to dogs and cats. Signs include: Incoordination, depression, inability to eat and drink, fetal death and birth defects Credit: Image Courtesy of Gary Coffman, PBase.com Gallery… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records white point-vetch in 13 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Boulder, Chaffee, Cheyenne, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Denver, Dolores, El Paso, Elbert, Grand, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lake, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mesa, Moffat, Park, Sedgwick, Summit, Teller, Washington, Weld, Yuma.

More Colorado flowers

Red clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–October
Yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis)

Yellow sweetclover

Melilotus officinalis

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–October
American vetch (Vicia americana)

American vetch

Vicia americana

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: May–August

Sources