Anthyllis montana is an easy-care site that prefers a sunny spot, but needs little watering.
Mountain kidney vetch (Anthyllis montana) is a hardy and adaptable addition to the perennial garden. The grey-green, pinnate leaves are already an eye-catcher. From May, the crimson flower heads join them and determine the appearance of the attractive groundcover until late summer. Mountain kidney vetch can grow up to 30 centimeters high and is preferably cultivated in rock or steppe gardens.
Plant Mountain kidney vetch
➔ Find the ideal location
In order to find the right location for mountain kidney vetch, you should deal with the natural needs of the perennial. Mountain kidney vetch grows in sunny places, in stony and rocky locations.
The plants love sun and light, unfortunately the ground cover does not thrive in the shade. While many other ornamental plants burn when exposed to too much sunlight, the mountain kidney vetch tolerates full sun.
The optimal location is in a sunny to partially shaded rock garden bed. Mountain kidney vetch is also suitable for planting on dry stone walls.
» Tip for planting in a tub: Since it is a deep-rooted plant, shallow planting trays are unsuitable for cultivation. On the other hand, mountain kidney vetch will thrive in a planter that can easily be set up in a cottage garden.
➔ Select the right substrate
The mountain kidney vetch is very robust and adaptable, but has a big enemy - waterlogging. It is therefore important to ensure that the soil is loose and well drained. The moisture must always be able to drain away easily.
The plant finds ideal conditions in a sandy gravel soil. Heavy clay soils are unsuitable. If you want to cultivate the mountain kidney vetch there, you should mix the excavation with sand and gravel when planting to make the soil more permeable.
➔ Plant kidney vetch - step by step
When planting, the requirements of the plant from the Papilionaceae family should be observed:
Plant heightGrowth habit
Growth behavior
Planting distance
10 to 20 cm lowand flat
forms loose clumps
20 to 30 cm
Planting takes place in the following steps:
- Select Location
- Removing weeds and roots from the ground
- Prepare the planting hole generously
- Note the planting distance
- loosen up heavy soil
- Insert plant
- Fill substrate
- Insert plant
- Press the bottom well
- Water the plant
» Tip: Up to 25 plants can be planted per square meter.
Nursery Vetch care
➔ Watering Angry Vetch correctly
The moisture requirement of Anthyllis montana is very low - with one exception: After planting, it is watered regularly in the first few weeks. A well-drained sandy soil can store very little moisture. This has the advantage that no waterlogging forms. However, young plants need sufficient moisture to be able to root well.
After about 6 - 8 weeks, the mountain kidney vetch should have established itself at its new location and the amount of watering can be greatly reduced.
➔ Fertilize mountain kidney vetch correctly
The mountain kidney vetch grows on poor soil and does not require an additional supply of fertilizer. If you enrich the substrate with some fresh compost when planting or add some horn shavings, you do not have to worry about fertilizing your plants in the first two years. Fertilizer can be applied again from the third year.
The most important planting and care tips at a glance
| Occupation | What matters? |
| Select Location | sunny to semi-shady dry warm |
| Prepare the ground | loose permeable sandy rocky |
| Planting Mountain kidney vetch | Group planting advantageous Planting distance 20 to 30 cm |
| Water kidney vetch | low water requirement water regularly after planting |
| Fertilize mountain kidney vetch | No fertilization necessary Compost or horn shavings possible when planting |
Propagating mountain kidney vetch
Propagation can be done by seeds. It must be noted that the mountain kidney vetch is a cold germ. The seeds of plants that are counted among the frost germs need a cold stimulus to germinateto be stimulated.
Sowing outdoors can therefore already take place in early spring. Preculture on the windowsill is a good way to get strong young plants. To do this, the seeds are sown in a seed tray as usual.
The planter must then be left in a cool place for about six weeks. Temperatures between +3 and -3 degrees Celsius are recommended. After this exposure to the cold, cultivation is continued warm and bright on the windowsill. Regular watering without waterlogging is important.
Our recommendation:
» Note: Patience is required when cultivating, until the mountain kidney vetch begins to germinate on the windowsill, it takes about two months.
Detect diseases and pests
The mountain kidney vetch is very robust and does not suffer from specific diseases. Pests are also usually not interested in the plant.
If the mountain kidney vetch begins to weaken, care errors are usually the cause. The most common problems arise in a shady location and when waterlogging occurs. The plants can only be saved if they are promptly transplanted to a sunny or dry location.
Winter kidney vetch
The mountain kidney vetch does not need winter protection. The plants are very robust and can withstand temperatures down to -15 degrees during the cold season.