Silky crazyweed in bloom. Silky crazyweed in its early growth stage. All livestock species can be poisoned by eating crazyweed.
Horses never recover once they are poisoned.
Cattle gain weight slowly and often have abortions, while sheep abortions are common from eating these plants. Livestock generally avoid crazyweed until feed is scarce, but once they have eaten it, they seek out the plants. Mature plants range in height from 6 to 12 inches. Leaves are covered with fine hairs giving it a whitish-gray appearance. Flowers vary in color by species, with silky crazyweed having white flowers and Lambert crazyweed having purplish-pink flowers.