Sainfoin Seeds (Onobrychis viciifolia)

A beautiful perennial legume that enriches soil, supports pollinators, and provides excellent forage for livestock. This colourful species brings life to wildflower meadows, pasture blends, and conservation areas. A superb nectar source for bees and butterflies, drought-tolerant, and thrives on free-draining chalk or limestone soils.

Key Features:

• Nitrogen-fixing legume that naturally improves soil fertility
• Long-flowering perennial ideal for pollinators, especially honeybees
• Highly palatable and nutritious forage crop for livestock
• Drought-tolerant and suited to poor, alkaline soils
• Adds ornamental interest with delicate, rose-pink flowers
• Approx. 80 seeds per 1g

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a deep-rooted perennial wildflower and fodder plant native to calcareous grasslands. It forms dense clumps of fine, fern-like leaves and produces upright spikes of pale to deep pink flowers from late spring into summer. Once widely cultivated for hay and grazing, sainfoin is enjoying a revival thanks to its multiple ecological and agricultural benefits.

Rich in nectar, sainfoin flowers are a magnet for bees, particularly honeybees, making it an excellent addition to pollinator-friendly planting schemes. Its deep taproot helps it access nutrients and moisture in poor soils, while its nitrogen-fixing properties improve soil structure and fertility over time. Unlike many modern forage crops, sainfoin is non-bloating, making it a safe and healthy choice for livestock.

Sainfoin thrives on chalky, free-draining soils and prefers full sun. It’s well-suited to wildflower meadows, orchard understories, permaculture systems, and regenerative grazing rotations. Though slower to establish than annuals, sainfoin is long-lived and becomes more productive each year.

Sow sainfoin seeds directly into prepared, weed-free soil in spring or early autumn. Choose a sunny site with light, well-drained soil, especially chalky or limestone-rich ground. Avoid heavy or waterlogged soils, which can limit root development.

Broadcast or drill seeds at a rate of 3–6 g per square metre, lightly covering them with soil or raking in. Keep the seedbed moist until germination, which typically occurs within 10 to 20 days under warm conditions. Establishment may be slow in the first season, but sainfoin becomes more vigorous in subsequent years.

Cut or lightly graze sainfoin once flowering is over to promote regrowth and longevity. If grown as forage, it can be cut for hay or rotationally grazed to extend flowering and encourage regrowth.

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.

Sainfoin is ideal for wildlife meadows, conservation strips, orchard floors, permaculture plots, and regenerative pastures. It’s especially valuable in chalk grassland restoration projects and for landowners seeking low-input, pollinator-friendly ground cover.

Its generous flowering period provides a long-lasting nectar source for honeybees, solitary bees, and butterflies. Livestock benefit from its digestibility, high protein content, and natural anthelmintic (worm-reducing) properties.

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.

We aim to ensure customer satisfaction with all products supplied. If you experience any issues with your order, please contact us at info@kentseeds.co.uk within 5 working days of the dispatch date, quoting your order number and a detailed description of the issue.

Read our full Delivery & Returns policy here.

Q1: Does sainfoin grow well in all soil types?
A: Sainfoin prefers light, well-drained soils, particularly chalk or limestone-based. It does not thrive in heavy clay or poorly drained ground.

Q2: Is sainfoin good for bees?
A: Absolutely—sainfoin is one of the best nectar sources for honeybees and supports a wide range of pollinators during its long flowering period.

Q3: How long does sainfoin take to establish?
A: It establishes slowly in its first year but becomes stronger and more productive in subsequent seasons, lasting several years with proper care.

Q4: Can I use sainfoin as animal forage?
A: Yes, sainfoin is a traditional and nutritious forage plant. It’s especially valued for being non-bloating and rich in protein and minerals.