Practical
Plants

Onobrychis viciifolia

Sainfoin

a perennial member of the Onobrychis genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

One report says that the plant is edible[6], but does not say what part of the plant is used.

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A good soil conditioner for poor light soils[2]. The plants can be grown on the land for a number of years, the deep tap roots breaking up the sub-soil and bringing up minerals from below. Plants can be cut during the growing season but care must be taken not to cut too low because the tap root tends to rise above ground level and the plant can be killed if this is cut off[2]. The plant has an extensive root system and is useful for stabilizing soils[3][7].

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from France south and east to Spain, Siberia, Caucasus and Iran.
Habitat
Grassland on chalk and limestone[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and sow in situ in the spring[1][7]. Seed can also be sown in situ in the autumn. If seed is in short supply then it might be wiser to sow it in pots in a cold frame in early spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. Division in the spring just before new growth commences[7]. Large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained neutral to alkaline sandy loam in full sun[1][7]. Succeeds in poor soils[2] and in shallow soils over chalk[7]. Dislikes shade. Does not succeed in wet soils[2]. A good border plant for the vegetable garden[5][6], the deep tap root helps to break up the sub-soil[2]. Plants are resistant to alfalfa stem nematodes[3] and are immune to bacterial wilt disease and attacks by the alfalfa stem weevil[3]. A good bee plant[7]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  3. Natural Food Institute, Wonder Crops. 1987.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  5. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩

  6. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

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