Hippocrepis emerus, commonly known as the Horseshoe Vetch, is a perennial plant in the Fabaceae family. Native to Europe, it thrives in dry grasslands, heaths, and rocky areas. This plant grows up to 50 cm tall and features a woody stem with small leaves divided into three leaflets. Its yellow flowers, each marked with a horseshoe-shaped pattern on the petals, bloom from May to August.
Horseshoe Vetch is a crucial food source for various butterfly species, including the Adonis Blue butterfly, which lays its eggs on the plant's leaves. Additionally, the plant contains flavonoids with anti-inflammatory properties, lending it some medicinal potential. However, due to its potential to cause photosensitivity in some individuals when applied topically or ingested in large amounts, it should be used with caution.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Shrub
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Hippocrepis
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 7-8
- Mature Height
- 2.13 m
- Mature Spread
- 2.13 m
- Leaf Color
- Green
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Color
- Yellow
- Flower Size
- 2.54 cm
- Bloom Time
- Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall
Other names.
