Anagyris foetida
Care, watering, light and tips for Anagyris foetida on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 10 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Anagyris foetida
Anagyris foetida, commonly known as Stinking Bean Trefoil or Fetid Anagyris, is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Fabaceae family, notable for its unpleasant odor when handled. It features grey-green trifoliate leaves and produces clusters of bright yellow flowers in late winter or early spring, followed by leguminous pods. It's an excellent choice for Mediterranean gardens, xeriscaping, or as a botanical curiosity, especially in areas where its peculiar aroma is not an issue.
Native range
Mediterranean Region
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal flowering and healthy development; it tolerates some partial shade but with less vigor. It is extremely drought-tolerant once established, so watering should be minimal and spaced out, avoiding waterlogging which could rot its roots. It prefers well-drained soils, even poor and stony ones, typical of its Mediterranean habitat. A common mistake is overwatering, which can lead to fungal diseases and plant death.
How to save a dying Anagyris foetida
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or prematurely dropped leaves, lack of flowering or deformed pods. May indicate water or nutritional stress.
- First aid
- Check watering; if soil is dry, hydrate deeply. If waterlogged, aerate and reduce watering. Consider a light compost addition.
- What kills it
- Overwatering, causing root rot and asphyxia. Also lack of direct sun or very compacted soils.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, it's a resilient plant. Act quickly by correcting watering and improving sun exposure. Pruning dry branches helps revive it.