Spiny Rest Harrow
Ononis spinosa

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae

What it is like

Ononis spinosa is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from May to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Height (m): 0.6

Where it is found

Chalk and limestone grassland, stony hillsides and open pine forests, mainly on dry stony ground.

Most of Europe, including Britain, to N. Africa and temperate Asia.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Young shoots - cooked. Used as a potherb. Roots - chewed for their liquorice-like flavour. Flowers - raw. They are used as a decoration on salads.

Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.

Medicine

Rating: 2

The roots, leaves and flowers are antitussive, aperient, diuretic and lithontripic. The root contains a fixed oil that is anti-diuretic and an essential oil that is diuretic. If the diuretic action is required then the root should be infused and not decocted or the essential oil will be evaporated. An infusion is used in the treatment of dropsy, inflammation of the bladder and kidneys, rheumatism and chronic skin disorders. The roots are used occasionally, they are harvested in the autumn, cut into slices and carefully dried for later use. The young shoots are more commonly used, either fresh or dried. They can be harvested throughout the summer. A cough mixture is made from the bark.

Antirheumatic: Treats rheumatism.

Antitussive: Prevents or relieves coughing.

Aperient: A mild laxative.

Diuretic: Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.

Lithontripic: Removes stones from the kidney, bladder etc.

Other

Rating: 3

Nitrogen Fixer

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

Prefers a sunny position in a well-drained neutral to alkaline soil. Succeeds in poor soils, the plant often becoming spiny in such a situation. Similar to O. repens but this species is not rhizomatous. Mature roots are very tough and the plant gained its common name of 'Rest Harrow' because ploughs and harrows would be unable to break through it (in the days before heavy machinery was used on the land!). The whole plant is pleasantly scented when bruised. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

Propagating it: Scarify or pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and sow the seed in the middle of spring in situ. The seed can also be sown in a cold frame in the autumn. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring. Division just before new growth begins in spring. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings, September in a cold frame.

Best place to grow: Meadow;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 5-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

O. campestris. O. procurrens.