MEDICAGO arborea

Common evergreen shrub which can easily grow 2 meters tall and more. It comes from Mediterranean countries (Spain, Italy,etc.). Strongly branched from the base, it has straight and horizontal stems, which give the plant a compact and thick aspect. Leaves are characterized by serrated edges and are covered by a silvery fuzz. From late autumn and throughout the summer, the plant fills of flowers with a yellow papilionacea corolla, gathered in inflorescences arising from the axil of the young branches' leaves. Characteristic is also the aspect of the fruits, which are leguminous and almost always rolled up on themselves.

Place it in a sunny or semi shaded position because in quite shaded places its blooming will be poor. Even if it is suitable to any kind of soil, it prefers the ones which are sandy, rock, poor, dried and well drained. This plant tolerates both drought and salt: so it is ideal for the realization of coastal gardens. It tolerates the cold and frosts even if they are intense and prolonged. in autumn, you could prune it lightly or remove the damaged and dried parts in order to improve its development and its next blooming. In full ground it can be used as single specimen, in association with other mediterranean essences and to realize hedges or borders which will colour the garden during the months without great blooming.