Onobrychis Viciifolia

Sainfoin is a hardy, drought-resistant perennial with pinnate foliage and upright spikes of rosy pink pea flowers, each petal finely striped with deeper red. The name comes from the French for healthy hay, reflecting centuries of cultivation as a nutritious forage crop on chalk and limestone soils. Nitrogen-fixing roots improve poor ground, while the nectar-rich flowers are exceptionally valuable to bees. Equally useful in wildlife meadows, dry banks and naturalistic borders, Onobrychis viciifolia combines agricultural history, ecological value and a long summer display.