Wildflowers UK, bringing the British Countryside to you.

Perfect for pollinators

Kidney Vetch -Anthyllis vulneraria – grows best in dry grassland and is well suited to chalk and limestone soils on sites where there is plenty of sunlight. Plants draw a wide range of insect life such as Bees, Butterflies and Ladybirds. Kidney vetch also plays host to breeding butterflies such as the Small Blue that will lay its eggs on the plant. Kidney vetch is a low growing species with a soft yellow flower that appears from June to September. Kidney vetch looks best growing with other chalk and limestone plants that flower in early to mid summer such as Oxeye daisies, Greater Knapweed, Meadow Cranesbills and Small Scabious. Alternative Names for Kidney vetch include Butter Fingers, Fingers and Thumbs, Double Pincushion, Lamb’s Foot, Lady’s Finger.

How to grow Kidney Vetch Seeds
Kidney Vetch seeds should be sown in spring or autumn, either outside, where they are to flower, or in seed trays and covered lightly with compost. Germination can be improved by lightly rubbing the seeds between 2 sheets of sandpaper. This is known as scarification and helps break down the seed’s tough outer shell. Kidney vetch seeds are usually easy to germinate and the seedlings, which are quick to develop, can be pricked out and grown on, for planting out later in the year.

RHS Perfect for Pollinators.
The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark is only given to plants that support pollinating insects in gardens. Bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and many others visit flowers to feed on nectar and pollen; while doing so they transfer pollen and increase seed set and fruit development. Find out more at: rhs.org.uk/plants

To discover more plants for Bees, simply enter the word "pollinators" into the search box above.


To buy Kidney Vetch seeds
To purchase Kidney vetch seeds, please select a quantity above and click add to cart. To ensure the best chance of success, we sell all of our wildflower seeds by weight, which ensures each wildflower seed packet contains a good quantity of seeds. The recommended sowing rate is 1 gram per square metre, and the number of Kidney vetch seeds per gram is approx. 350. All of our Wildflower seed packets contain seeds of Native British provenance.


Summary
Type - perennial/biennial/annual,
Colour - Yellow,
Height - 25 to 100cms,
Flowers in June, July, August,
Habitat - Chalk and Limestone Grassland,
Attracts Bees, Butterflies
Caterpillar Food Plant