Pink Sainfoin {Onobrychis viciifolia} Showy Blooms | High Nectar | Cutting Heirloom | Self seeding annial | 50+ seeds Free Shipping!

 

Tall nitrogen-fixing perennial legume with hollow, succulent stems 

and pink-striped flowers. Large, deep branching taproot and fine 

lateral roots. Drought tolerant and winter hardy. Low salt tolerance. 

Intolerant of high water tables and wet soils; long-lived on dryland 

when managed properly. Matures faster than Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), 

providing early spring forage. Quickly gaining popularity as a non-bloat 

forage alternative to alfalfa. Extremely palatable and highly nutritious; 

digestibility equal to alfalfa. Use for hay, pasture, rangeland or silage, 

alone or with grasses. Also use for wildlife habitat enhancement and food 

plots for elk, deer, pheasant and sage-grouse. Superior honey plant to 

alfalfa. Not invasive or weedy.

 

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is well suited to hay harvesting as it grows 

upright and is easily cut. It is somewhat higher in moisture content than alfalfa. 

Since regrowth is very poor, it is best suited to taking one clipping at about 

the half- to full-bloom stage. Unlike alfalfa, it does not drop its lower leaves; 

stems remain succulent as the plant matures so that quality does not decrease so 

rapidly. Yield is often better than that of alfalfa for one clipping, but only 80 

to 90 percent as high when two cuttings per season are compared. It competes poorly 

in mixtures with aggressive grasses and, although total yield is usually not affected, 

the proportion of sainfoin decreases.

 

Germination

 

Sow directly in spring or autumn. Prior to sowing soak seed for 24-48 hours in warm 

water or until the seed swells. Discard seeds that float. Sow 10-20mm deep into prepared 

soil which has been raked to a fine tilth and watered. Ideal temp. 10°C. but germination 

will occur between 10-20°C. Germination should be rapid, varying slightly with weather 

conditions. Thin seedlings as required.

 

Growing Instructions

 

Prefers a chalky, dry, ordinary soil in full to partial sun. This plant will not grow in 

the shade. Requires little attention.

 

Cultivation Instructions

 

Requires little attention. Can be cut back to ground level after flowering. Propagate by 

division or established clumps in spring.