Kidney vetch

Anthyllis vulneraria

Layer 4 · Herbaceous
Nitrogen fixer

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Small perennial legume with yellow flowers, common in dry, calcareous meadows. Fixes nitrogen in the soil and is very attractive to bees and butterflies. In a food forest, it occupies the herbaceous layer, combining a fertilising function with support for pollinators in poor soils.

It can be planted now — September is one of the best months.

See which trees kidney vetch grows well with

These trees share this species' soil and climate — the pairing is inferred from conditions, not from a guild we have already seen.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Low
Light: Full sun
Size: Perennial herb up to 0.4 m
Mature diameter: 0.3 m
Soils: Sandy, Loam, Limestone
Climates: Hot, dry Mediterranean, Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Mountain / cold

Calendar

January
February
March — Planting
April — Planting
May — Harvest
June — Harvest
July — Harvest
August — Harvest
September — Planting
October — Planting
November
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Its flowers are traditionally prepared in infusions or poultices for topical use due to their healing and astringent properties on the skin.

Where to buy

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.