Erinacea anthyllis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Fabales |
Family: | Fabaceae |
Subfamily: | Faboideae |
Tribe: | Genisteae |
Genus: | Erinacea |
Species: | E. anthyllis |
Binomial name | |
Erinacea anthyllis Link |
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Synonyms | |
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Erinacea anthyllis, blue broom, hedgehog plant, or rushy kidney vetch, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is native to stony mountainous places in the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean and Morocco. It is a dwarf, spiny, evergreen shrub growing to a dome shape 30 cm (12 in) tall and wide. It has dense foliage, and lilac coloured pea-like flowers in late spring and early summer.
The Latin specific epithet anthyllis highlights the plant's similarity to the related kidney vetch, Anthyllis vulneraria.
Erinacea anthyllis is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is best grown in sun, in sharply-drained alkaline soil which reproduces the limestone of its native habitat. Once established, it is extremely long-lived.
It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Montsec de Rúbies, foothills of the Pyrenees
Close-up of flowers
Graell de Roca Alta, Montsec