Spring vetchling

Legume family. A representative of the flora of the central part of Russia. Found in forests and shrubs throughout the European part of Russia, in the Caucasus, and in the western and eastern parts of Siberia. A rare and protected plant.

Growth habit: small, bushy. Height 20-30 cm. Leaf pinnate with narrow segments, at first light green, then dark green, glossy. Consists of 2-4 pairs of ovate or broadly ovate pointed leaflets. The leaf rachis ends not in a tendril but in a spine. Inflorescences with 3-8 flowers, bicolored, from carmine to purple and blue-violet, attract butterflies. Flowers nodding, rather large. Blooms in May, very decorative when in flower.

Grows well in a bright, semi-shaded location. Soil required moderately dry, fresh, manured, with average nutrient content, calcareous.

Propagation: by seed, some cultivars by division, but does not tolerate transplanting well. Self-seeding occurs. Combines well with anemones, epimedium, pulmonaria.