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Overview
Ornithopus spp. is a genus of small annual legumes in the family Fabaceae, native to Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and parts of western Asia and South America, with around six species. The common name bird's-foot comes from the slender, curved, jointed seed pods, which are constricted between the seeds and splayed like a bird's toes. Plants are low, slender, often sprawling annuals 5-40 cm (2-16 in) long, with soft, pinnate leaves of many small leaflets. Tiny pea flowers, 3-8 mm (0.1-0.3 in) long, appear in small stalked clusters from late spring through summer, in white, pink, or yellow depending on species. Like other legumes, Ornithopus spp. forms root nodules with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and so grows on poor, sandy, acidic soils where many plants struggle. O. sativus, serradella, and O. compressus, yellow serradella, are grown as fodder, forage, and green-manure crops on light land, while O. perpusillus is a small wild species of sandy grassland and heath. The pods break into single-seeded joints that scatter as they dry.
Native Range
Ornithopus spp. is native to Europe, the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, and parts of western Asia, with a few species in South America. It grows on sandy, acidic soils in grassland, heath, dunes, and disturbed open ground.Suggested Uses
Ornithopus spp. species, especially the serradellas, are used as forage, fodder, and green-manure crops on light, acidic soils, and to improve soil nitrogen in rotations. Wild species form part of sandy grassland and heath communities.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 1'4"
Width/Spread4" - 1'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white, pink, or yellowFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Ornithopus spp. species are annuals of warm, sunny, sandy sites and grow in poor, free-draining, acidic to neutral soils with a pH around 4.5-6.5, fixing their own nitrogen through root nodules. They need little or no feeding and tolerate drought and low fertility more readily than most crops. Serradella species are sown in spring or autumn as forage or green manure, germinating quickly in warm soil and growing fast through the season. Heavy, wet, or limey soils suit them poorly. Plants set abundant seed and can self-sow on suitable open ground.Pruning
No pruning is needed for these annual plants. Forage crops are cut or grazed during growth, and green-manure stands are cut and dug in before or around flowering to return nitrogen to the soil.✓ Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow