Horseshoe Vetch

Description

The overall appearance depends on its habitat: sometimes it forms upright clumps of flowers; at other times, it sends prostrate leafy runners over a wide area; sometimes it distributes itself as single flowers. It is a hardy plant that survives long periods of cold winters and dry summers years after year. It is particularly good at colonizing bare chalk areas such as new road cuttings and quarries. The highly scented flowers, which are in bloom throughout May and early June, are flowered by the seed pods which, when ripe, curl into a series of U shapes a little like a string of horse shoes.