Ononis sicula

Ononis sicula

Native to:
Algeria, Canary Is., Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Gulf States, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, Somalia, Spain, Tunisia, Türkiye, Western Sahara, Yemen

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Ononis
Species:
Ononis sicula
USDA Symbol:
ONSI3

Growth Characteristics

Height:
30 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
pink, yellow

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to Mediterranean regions; prefers coastal areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
14–42 days
Notes:
Hard seed coat requires scarification. Seeds may benefit from soaking in hot water or mechanical abrasion before stratification.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI