Kidney Vetch Seeds (Anthyllis vulneraria)

With its soft, woolly foliage and clusters of yellow (occasionally reddish) flowers, this native perennial is especially valuable for attracting pollinators and supporting wildlife. It thrives in well-drained soils and brings long-lasting blooms from late spring into summer.

Key Features:

• Native British wildflower that supports biodiversity and pollinator health
• Low-growing, drought-tolerant, and ideal for dry, sunny conditions
• Suitable for wildflower meadows, gravel gardens, green roofs, and poor soils
• Long flowering period from May to August, adding colour and interest
• Approx. 80-100 seeds per 1g

Kidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria) is a hardy perennial that forms low-growing clumps of silvery-green, softly hairy leaves, with rounded clusters of yellow flowers that resemble pincushions. Often seen on chalk grasslands and coastal cliffs, this wildflower is well adapted to poor, dry soils where other plants may struggle.

Flowering from May through August, Kidney Vetch is one of the best species for boosting pollinator activity, providing a rich nectar source for bees and butterflies. It is the exclusive larval food plant of the Small Blue butterfly (Cupido minimus), making it a must-have for wildlife-friendly and conservation-focused planting.

Easy to grow and low-maintenance, Kidney Vetch prefers full sun and alkaline to neutral soils with good drainage. It is perfect for sowing in wildflower lawns, green roofs, gravel gardens, and other low-fertility areas where competition from vigorous grasses is limited.

Sow Kidney Vetch seeds in spring or autumn, directly into well-prepared soil that’s free-draining and low in nutrients. Seeds may benefit from light scarification or a short cold period (stratification) to improve germination rates.

Lightly rake the seeds into the surface and water gently. Keep moist during germination, which can take 2–4 weeks, depending on conditions. Avoid using fertilisers, as these can favour grasses and suppress wildflower growth.

Once established, Kidney Vetch is drought-tolerant and requires minimal maintenance. It can be left to flower and set seed naturally, helping the plant spread year after year with little intervention. Suitable for both managed and rewilded spaces.

For garden applications direct sow at 1g/m2. For overseeding existing meadow planting or for new sowings on larger areas sow at a maximum of 2g/m2.

Kidney Vetch is especially valuable for ecological planting schemes and wildflower meadows. Its importance as a larval food source for the Small Blue butterfly makes it a top choice for butterfly gardens and pollinator corridors.

Use it in wildlife gardens, chalk grassland restoration projects, coastal or dry meadow plantings, green roofs or gravel beds, sunny, nutrient-poor soil areas

We offer a flat shipping rate of £5.99.

Garden lawn seed, wildflower seeds, and wildflower seed mixtures are typically dispatched within 1 to 3 working days.

Products from our agricultural, landscaping, and equine ranges may be shipped separately as they are mixed to order.

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Q1: Is Kidney Vetch easy to grow?
A: Yes, it’s easy to grow in well-drained, poor soil with good sunlight. It’s ideal for low-maintenance or wild planting schemes.

Q2: When should I sow Kidney Vetch seeds?
A: Sow in autumn or spring. Autumn sowing often benefits from natural cold stratification, which can help improve germination.

Q3: Why is Kidney Vetch important for wildlife?
A: It supports a range of pollinators and is the only food plant for the larvae of the Small Blue butterfly, a nationally scarce species in the UK.

Q4: Will Kidney Vetch return each year?
A: Yes. Kidney Vetch is a perennial and will return each year. It may also self-seed in suitable conditions, gradually forming larger colonies.