• Kidney Vetch Yellow Flowers
  • Kidney Vetch Yellow Flowers
  • Kidney Vetch Yellow Flowers
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Eden Valley Seeds

Kidney Vetch Seeds for Planting – Anthyllis vulneraria Golden Yellow Meadow Wildflower

Kidney Vetch Seeds for Planting – Anthyllis vulneraria Golden Yellow Meadow Wildflower

$16.99 USD
$16.99 USD
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Key Features

  • Golden Yellow Flower Clusters: Produces rounded heads of small, pea-shaped blossoms in warm yellow shades.

  • Soft Green Foliage: Features compound leaves with softly hairy leaflets.

  • Low-Growing Meadow Habit: Develops compact to spreading growth suitable for naturalistic planting arrangements.

  • Pollinator-Friendly Flowers: Attracts bees and other visiting insects.

  • Adaptable to Lean Soils: Grows naturally in relatively low-fertility, well-draining habitats.

Growing Benefits

  • Natural Meadow Color: Adds cheerful yellow flowers to sunny wildflower plantings.

  • Pollinator Garden Interest: Provides floral resources for visiting bees and butterflies.

  • Soil Adaptability: Performs well in suitable sandy, gravelly, or calcareous soils.

  • Low-Fertility Garden Appeal: Requires relatively little supplemental fertilizer.

  • Botanical Diversity: Adds the distinctive flower and foliage structure of a leguminous wildflower to ornamental collections.

Seed Specifications

  • Common Name: Kidney Vetch, Lady's Fingers

  • Botanical Name: Anthyllis vulneraria

  • Plant Family: Fabaceae

  • Type: Ornamental Meadow Wildflower

  • Plant Classification: Short-Lived Perennial, Biennial, or Annual Depending on Population

  • Variety: Species Form; Subspecies Not Specified

  • Flower Color: Golden Yellow; Natural Color Variation Possible

  • Flower Shape: Small Pea-Shaped Flowers in Rounded Clusters

  • Foliage Color: Green to Grayish Green

  • Leaf Shape: Compound Leaves With Oval Leaflets

  • Plant Height: Approximately 6–18 Inches

  • Plant Spread: Approximately 8–18 Inches

  • Growth Habit: Low Growing, Spreading to Upright

  • Sunlight: Full Sun

  • Soil: Sandy, Gravelly, Calcareous, Well-Draining Soil

  • Soil pH: Neutral to Alkaline Preferred

  • Water Requirements: Low to Moderate Once Established

  • Germination Time: Approximately 10–30 Days Under Favorable Conditions; Variable

  • Germination Temperature: Approximately 60–70°F

  • Seed Preparation: Light Scarification May Improve Germination

  • Sowing Depth: Approximately ⅛–¼ Inch

  • Plant Spacing: Approximately 8–12 Inches

  • USDA Growing Zones: Approximately 4–8, Depending on Local Conditions and Provenance

  • Planting Season: Spring or Autumn

  • Flowering Season: Late Spring to Summer

  • Maturity: Flowering May Begin During the First or Second Growing Season

  • Native Region: Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa

  • Uses: Meadow Gardens, Gravel Gardens, Sunny Borders, Botanical Collections

  • Seed Count Per Pack: Confirm Actual Quantity

  • Special Characteristics: Yellow Flower Heads, Softly Hairy Foliage, Leguminous Growth

Growing Tips

  • Choose Full Sun: Provide a bright, open location for compact growth and abundant flowering.

  • Prioritize Drainage: Avoid heavy soils that remain wet for extended periods.

  • Use Lean Soil: Excessively rich soil may encourage competing vegetation and reduce flowering performance.

  • Prepare Seeds Carefully: Gentle scarification may help water penetrate the seed coat.

  • Avoid Root Disturbance: Transplant young seedlings before their root systems become crowded.

  • Check Regional Suitability: Kidney Vetch is not native to the United States; confirm local ecological guidance before including it in meadow mixes.

Seed Storage

  • Cool Storage: Keep seeds in a cool location away from excessive heat.

  • Dry Conditions: Store fully dried seeds in sealed, moisture-resistant containers.

  • Light Protection: Protect stored seeds from prolonged direct sunlight.

  • Proper Labeling: Record the botanical name, seed lot, and collection date.

  • Seed Viability: Test older seed lots before larger planting projects.

Unique Facts About the Seeds

  • Member of the Pea Family: Kidney Vetch belongs to Fabaceae, the same botanical family as clovers and lupines.

  • Distinctive Woolly Flower Heads: The rounded flower clusters are often surrounded by softly hairy structures.

  • Naturally Variable Species: Anthyllis vulneraria includes several subspecies and geographic forms with differing growth characteristics.

  • Nitrogen-Fixing Association: Like many legumes, Kidney Vetch can form associations with compatible root bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen.

  • Butterfly Host Plant: In its European native range, Kidney Vetch is an important larval host for certain blue butterflies, including the small blue butterfly.

Growing Instructions

1. Planting Season: Sow Kidney Vetch seeds in spring or autumn. Autumn sowing can provide natural seasonal conditions for establishment.
2. Soil Preparation: Prepare a sunny, well-draining seedbed with sandy, gravelly, or moderately calcareous soil. Remove weeds and avoid excessive compost.
3. Seed Preparation: Lightly scarify the hard seed coat or soak seeds in room-temperature water for approximately twelve hours before sowing.
4. Sowing Method: Sow seeds directly into prepared soil or individual nursery containers. Press them gently into the growing medium.
5. Sowing Depth: Cover seeds lightly with approximately ⅛–¼ inch of fine soil. Avoid deep burial.
6. Plant Spacing: Thin seedlings to approximately 8–12 inches apart, adjusting for the growth habit of the seed lot.
7. Sunlight Requirements: Provide full sunlight for healthy growth and flowering. Avoid densely shaded planting locations.
8. Watering: Maintain light, consistent moisture during germination. Reduce watering after establishment and prevent prolonged waterlogging.
9. Germination: Germination may begin within two to four weeks under favorable conditions, but some seed lots can take one to two months or longer.
10. Transplanting: Move young seedlings carefully into their final growing positions while roots are still manageable. Harden off indoor-grown plants before transplanting.
11. Fertilizing: Avoid heavy fertilizer applications. Kidney Vetch generally performs well in poor to moderately fertile soil.
12. Plant Care: Remove competing weeds, maintain good drainage, and trim spent growth when necessary. Monitor self-seeding in managed garden beds.
13. Flowering and Pollination: Established plants develop rounded clusters of golden yellow flowers during late spring and summer. Bees and other insects visit the blossoms.
14. Maturity and Seed Harvesting: Allow selected flower heads to mature and dry naturally. Collect ripe seeds before dispersal and store them in clean, labeled containers.