Horseshoe Vetch
Hippocrepis comosa
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Krym, Netherlands, NW. Balkan Pen., Romania, Sardegna, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine
Vojtěch Zavadil
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Hippocrepis
- Species:
- Hippocrepis comosa
- USDA Symbol:
- HICO3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 40 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- dry, calcareous, well-drained soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- often found on limestone or chalk grasslands
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination rates due to hard seed coat. May benefit from inoculation with appropriate Rhizobium.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI