Galega officinalis

Galega officinalis, also known as Goat's Rue or French Lilac, is a vigorous perennial shrub that will delight gardeners who appreciate indestructible plants with a rustic charm. Its long summer flowering in clusters of pea-like flowers, in pink to light mauve and sometimes white, are a delight to bees. However, the downside is that this generous plant must be controlled; otherwise it may invade the garden or surrounding countryside. Ideal in a countryside garden, with its head in the sun and its feet anchored in a cool soil that retains moisture.

Galega officinalis, formerly known as Spanish Sainfoin, is a perennial plant with buds emerging from underground stems, belonging to the Fabaceae family. Originally from the Mediterranean and Middle East (Western and Central Europe, North Africa, and Turkey), Galega has become international by conquering neighbouring continents, including North America where it is now considered invasive. It thrives in ditches, meadows, and the edges of streams where it self-seeds abundantly. It is up to you to determine and choose its fate: either contain it within your favourite flower beds or take advantage of its vigour to successfully colonise open spaces such as fallow fields.

It is an excellent architectural plant, reaching over 1 m (3 ft) in height, thanks to its bushy habit supported by erect and branched stems. Its elongated leaves have acute tips and are adorned from June to September with numerous loose clusters of papilionaceous flowers, ranging in colour from pink to mauve and occasionally white.

You can combine Galega officinalis with shrubs and perennials of different sizes, shapes, and colours to create a relatively contemporary composition that blends natural and sophisticated elements, with white, light pink, and black. Set some white eremurus as a backdrop, place galegas in the centre of the flower bed, and at their base, add rounded and structuring evergreen shrubs that will sheath them and provide strength and movement (such as hebes or pittosporums). Finally, intersperse black blackout heucheras, atropurpureum alliums, and black tulips in large swathes to add rhythm. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this legume is a useful plant that acts as a green fertiliser. It produces nitrogen, which enriches the soil, similar to mustard and phacelia.

Please note that it can be dangerous if ingested by humans or animals, as its above-ground parts are toxic during the flowering and fruiting period. This extraordinary plant possesses therapeutic properties, including diuretic, hypoglycaemic, and galactagogue effects.