Description
Galega – Goat’s Rue –
There are about 6 species of clump forming, herbaceous, perennials, in this genus. They occur in sunny but damp meadows, slopes, and banks in Europe, Western Asia, and the mountains of tropical Eastern Africa. They have alternate, pinnate, soft green or blue tinged leaves, 3-8″ long, and bears erect, axillary racemes of pea like, white, blue, mauve, or bicolored flowers. Galega species and cultivars naturalize well, and are effective in a border from mid summer onward, some are also good for cutting.
Grow in any, preferably moist soil in full sun or partial shade. They need staking, and may spread rapidly in rich soil.. Cut back flowered stems to prevent self seeding. Divide between late autumn and spring.
Prone to pea weevils and bean weevils.
G. officinalis – This vigorous, erect, clump forming perennial found from Central and Southern Europe, Turkey to Pakistan grows 3-5′ feet tall and 3′ feet wide. From lax, sometimes spreading stems carry pinnate, light green leaves, each 9-17 oblong, elliptic, or lance shaped, pointed leaflets, ½-2″ long. From early summer to early autumn it bears 30-50 pea like, white or mauve, sometimes bi-colored flowers, ½” long, are carried in racemes to 7″ long, followed by long, narrow pods.
Zones 5-10
