Goat's Rue - Galega officinalis - €8 per plant 

Galega officinalis is a stunning plant.  A hardy herbaceous nitrogen fixing shrub that works well in a perennial guild for passive fertility, mulch and pollinator attractant . It graces the garden with a prolonged spectacular bloom much loved by bees. The leaves can be cooked and eaten much like spinach and the plant has long history of medicinal use. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: S. Europe
  • native habitat: Muddy places by rivers
  • family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae

Predators

  • no experience of any pests or predators 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Semi Shade- Full Sun
  • soil pH:  acid-neutral -basic alkaline  (can grow in very alkaline soils)
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 - 8
  • Prefers moist soil 

Known hazards 

  • A few reports exist of toxicity to mammals, but this contradicts other reports stating that the plant is fed to cows and goats in order to increase their milk yield
  • It can be invasive in good growing conditions

Overview

  • €8 per plant 
  • 12 x 20 plant bag
  • Herbaceous perennial growing to 1.2 m by 0.8 m at a fast rate.
  • It is in flower from June to July, and the seeds ripen in August.
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
  • It can fix Nitrogen.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
  • It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
  • It prefers moist soil.

Characteristics

  • form: Herbaceous Perennial  
  • layer : Herb Layer
  • habit: multi stemmed, 
  • height x width (m): 1.2 x 0.8
  • years to bearing yield: 0 years  
  • productive life span:  

Products 

  • Leaves: Cooked and eaten.
  • Medicinal: Once important in the treatment of plague, fevers and infectious diseases
  • The plant is used cosmetically in hand and foot bathes.

Functions, behaviours


  • A good guild member providing its own nitrogen.
  • Plants are very tolerant of neglect and can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn
  • Galega is used as a food plant by the larva of Coleophora vicinella, a species of moth.
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project