Family: Legume (Fabaceae)
Hardy to Zones 7 to 11
Herbaceous perennial native to the Mediterranean and to Russia. True, sweet variety. Traditional usage (TWM): demulcent, expectorant, flavoring agent, chronic fatigue, adrenal exhaustion, gastric ulcer. Plant prefers full sun and dry, alkaline soils. Inoculate soil with rhizobium inoculant for best results. Once established, the plants shoot up like a young willow thicket, setting erect lilac flowers that give way to the smooth pods. The part used is the stoloniferous root, which can be harvested after 2 or 3 years of growth. Plant prefers full sun and dry, alkaline soils. Scarify the seed and sow in warm, fast-draining soil. Work up in pots. Thin or transplant seedlings to 2 to 3 feet apart. Can take years to establish a good plot. This is a great crop for people in Arizona, or at elevation in California, or any other place where the weather is clear, high and hot.
Packet contains 20 seeds