Lotus maritimus

Lotus maritimus

Native to:
Albania, Algeria, Austria, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Krym, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Sardegna, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Lotus
Species:
Lotus maritimus
USDA Symbol:
LOMA16

Growth Characteristics

Height:
30 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul,aug
Bloom Colors:
yellow

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
★★★☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies
Salt Tolerant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
commonly found in coastal habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. May benefit from inoculation with Rhizobium bacteria.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI