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Common Restharrow

Ononis repens

Please keep in mind that it is illegal to uproot a plant without the landowner's consent and care should be taken at all times not to damage wild plants. Wild plants should never be picked for pleasure and some plants are protected by law.
For more information please download the BSBI Code of Conduct PDF document.

Plant Profile
Similar Species
Other Information
Distribution Map

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Order:

Fabales

Family:

Fabaceae (Pea)

Also in this family:

Alpine Milk-vetch, Alsike Clover, Birdsfoot, Birdsfoot Clover, Bird's-foot Trefoil, Bithynian Vetch, Bitter Vetch, Black Broom, Black Medick, Bladder Senna, Broad Bean, Broad-leaved Everlasting Pea, Bur Medick, Burrowing Clover, Bush Vetch, Clustered Clover, Common Broom, Common Gorse, Common Laburnum, Common Vetch, Crimson Clover, Crown Vetch, Dragon's Teeth, Dwarf Gorse, Dyer's Greenweed, False Acacia, Fine-leaved Vetch, Fodder Vetch, Garden Lupin, Garden Pea, Goat's Rue, Grass Vetchling, Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil, Hairy Bird's-foot Trefoil, Hairy Greenweed, Hairy Tare, Hairy Vetchling, Hairy-fruited Broom, Haresfoot Clover, Hop Trefoil, Horseshoe Vetch, Hungarian Vetch, Kidney Vetch, Knotted Clover, Large Trefoil, Lesser Trefoil, Lucerne, Marsh Pea, Meadow Vetchling, Narrow-leaved Bird's-foot Trefoil, Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea, Narrow-leaved Vetch, Nootka Lupin, Norfolk Everlasting Pea, Orange Birdsfoot, Petty Whin, Purple Milk-vetch, Purple Oxytropis, Red Clover, Reversed Clover, Ribbed Melilot, Rough Clover, Russell Lupin, Sainfoin, Scorpion Senna, Scottish Laburnum, Sea Clover, Sea Pea, Sickle Medick, Slender Bird's-foot Trefoil, Slender Tare, Slender Trefoil, Small Melilot, Small Restharrow, Smooth Tare, Spanish Broom, Spanish Gorse, Spiny Restharrow, Spotted Medick, Spring Vetch, Strawberry Clover, Suffocated Clover, Sulphur Clover, Tall Melilot, Toothed Medick, Tree Lupin, Tuberous Pea, Tufted Vetch, Twin-headed Clover, Two-flowered Everlasting Pea, Upright Clover, Upright Vetch, Western Clover, Western Gorse, White Broom, White Clover, White Lupin, White Melilot, Wild Liquorice, Wood Vetch, Yellow Oxytropis, Yellow Vetch, Yellow Vetchling, Zigzag Clover

Type:

Flower

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Maximum Size:

50 centimetres tall

Habitats:

Beaches, disturbed ground, grassland, meadows, roadsides, rocky places, saltmarshes, sand dunes, scrub, seaside.

Flower:

✿

Pink, 5 petals

Common Restharrow produces charming, pea-like flowers in shades of pink, often with deeper reddish or purple veins. Blooming from June to September, the flowers are typically found in small clusters on hairy stems. Each blossom has the familiar structure of the pea family: a large standard petal at the top, two lateral wings, and a keel enclosing the reproductive organs. These vibrant blooms attract bees and other pollinators, especially in coastal or grassy habitats.

Fruit:

The fruit is a small, oblong, hairy pod that develops after flowering. Measuring around 1–2 cm long, the pod contains several tiny seeds. As it matures, the pod turns brown and eventually splits open to release the seeds, aiding in the plant’s spread. Although not conspicuous, the seed pods are a useful identification feature in late summer.

Leaves:

Restharrow has trifoliate leaves—each leaf divided into three leaflets—similar in appearance to clover, but coarser and hairier. The leaflets are toothed and somewhat sticky to the touch. The plant is low-growing and spreads via creeping stems that root at the nodes, often forming dense mats. Its robust root system helped give the plant its name, as it was once known for “arresting” the progress of farmers’ harrows.

Fragrance:

The flowers of Common Restharrow are typically scentless, although some observers report a very faint sweet or herbal aroma when in full bloom. The plant’s foliage may have a mildly resinous or medicinal smell when crushed, but fragrance is not a notable feature of this species.

Other Names:

Cammock, Creeping Restharrow, Land Whin, Petty Whin, Wild Liquorice, Wild Liquorice Root.

Frequency (UK):

Occasionally seen

Small Restharrow

Spiny Restharrow

Summary

Ononis repens, also known as creeping restharrow, is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia. It is typically found in dry, rocky or sandy habitats and it is often used as a medicinal plant. The root and the aerial parts of the plant have been traditionally used to treat a variety of ailments such as urinary tract disorders, kidney stones, and rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been used as a diuretic and as a pain reliever.

Blog

Common Restharrow (Ononis repens) is a flowering plant that is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. It belongs to the Fabaceae family and is also known as Creeping Restharrow or Wild Liquorice. The plant is a herbaceous perennial, meaning that it dies back in the winter and regrows in the spring. In this blog, we'll take a closer look at the Common Restharrow, its characteristics, and its uses.

Description

Common Restharrow is a low-growing plant that can reach up to 50 centimeters in height. Its stem is hairy and woody at the base, with numerous thin branches. The leaves are alternate and compound, consisting of three oval-shaped leaflets that are slightly hairy. The flowers are pink or purple and appear in clusters at the end of the branches from June to September. The fruit is a cylindrical, hairy pod containing several seeds.

Habitat

Common Restharrow is a plant that prefers dry and sunny habitats, and it can often be found growing in grasslands, hedgerows, and on sandy soils. It is a common plant in many parts of Europe, and is often found in disturbed areas, such as roadside verges and waste ground.

Uses

Common Restharrow has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and it has a wide range of applications. Its root has been used as a diuretic, to treat urinary tract infections, and to relieve edema. It has also been used to treat rheumatism, gout, and joint pain. In addition, it has been used as a digestive aid, and to treat respiratory infections, such as coughs and bronchitis.

The plant is also used as a food source for livestock, and its seeds have been used as a coffee substitute.

Common Restharrow is a versatile plant that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. It is also a common plant in many parts of Europe, and is an important food source for livestock. Its low-growing habit and attractive flowers make it a popular choice for gardens, and it is a plant that is well worth getting to know. Whether you're interested in the plant's medicinal properties, or simply appreciate its beauty, Common Restharrow is a plant that is sure to impress.

More Information about Common Restharrow

While Common Restharrow is a beautiful and useful plant, it should be noted that it can also be invasive in certain areas. The plant can spread rapidly through its creeping roots, which can make it difficult to control in some situations. As a result, it is important to be mindful of its growth habits and to use it responsibly.

In addition to its medicinal uses and its role as a food source, Common Restharrow also has cultural and historical significance. The plant has been used in traditional European medicine for centuries, and it is often mentioned in herbal texts and folklore. In some cultures, it has been associated with protection and good luck, and has been used in rituals and ceremonies.

Overall, Common Restharrow is a plant that is both beautiful and useful. Its long history of use in traditional medicine, as well as its role as a food source and cultural symbol, make it an important plant in many ways. Whether you're a gardener, herbalist, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of nature, Common Restharrow is a plant that is well worth learning more about.

Videos

Video 1: Common Restharrow filmed in Orford, Suffolk on the 29th June 2022.

Video 2: Common Restharrow filmed at Leckhampton Hill in Gloucestershire on the 29th June 2023.

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Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

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Common Restharrow

Contents

Plant Profile

Similar Species

Other Information