Spotted medick
Medicago orbicularis · Fabaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant spotted medick: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Plant type
- Annual or biennial herb
- Flowering
- Spring to summer (April-July)
- Flowers
- Yellow, small, grouped in clusters
- Foliage
- Deciduous, compound, trifoliate
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, adapted to temperate and Mediterranean zones
- Origin
- Mediterranean Basin and Middle East
- Growth
- Fast
Care
Light Exposure
Plant your orbicular medick in full sun, ideally with at least 6 hours of direct light daily. This plant loves well-exposed, airy locations. It tolerates sunny, hot exposures brilliantly—typical of Mediterranean regions.
Soil Type
Choose well-draining soil that's slightly alkaline or neutral. This species is undemanding and adapts to poor or rocky terrain. Improve drainage if needed, as it dislikes waterlogged conditions.
Watering
Water moderately during growth, especially in dry periods. Once established, orbicular medick becomes very drought-tolerant thanks to its deep root system. Reduce watering in autumn and winter.
Fertilizing
Low nutrient demands: like all Fabaceae, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen through its roots. A light compost application at sowing or transplanting is enough. Avoid excess nitrogen, which would promote foliage over flowering.
Pruning and Maintenance
No pruning necessary. You can remove spent flowers to extend blooming if desired. At the end of the season, let the plant dry on the plant to harvest seeds in its characteristic fruits (toothed orbicular pods).
Pests and Diseases
Extremely resistant and rarely troubled by pests. Watch for excessive moisture that could cause root rot or mildew. In healthy, well-draining conditions, you shouldn't encounter major problems.
Did you know?
Orbicular medick owes its Latin name 'orbicularis' to its distinctive fruits: slightly flattened, circular to orbicular pods adorned with teeth or tubercles along the edges. Used since Antiquity as a forage and bee plant, it long enriched poor Mediterranean soils through symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. It's a true ally of traditional organic farming.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- Common PeaLathyrus oleraceus
- Honey locustGleditsia triacanthos
- Hairy greenweedGenista pilosa
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.