Medicago marina
Care, watering, light and tips for Medicago marina on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 5 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
About Medicago marina
Medicago marina, commonly known as sea medick, is a perennial creeping legume native to Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. It is characterized by its silvery, hairy leaves, which provide remarkable resistance to salinity and coastal winds, and its small clusters of yellow flowers. It is ideal for coastal gardens, rockeries, or as ground cover in arid and sandy areas.
Native range
Mediterranean region, including Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal growth and tolerates drought well once established, so watering should be sparse and infrequent. It prefers sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soils, adapting to saline conditions. It is crucial to avoid waterlogging, as its roots are susceptible to rot in wet, heavy soils.
How to save a dying Medicago marina
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or whitish leaves, soft stems, no flowering.
- First aid
- Move to a spot with more direct sunlight and good drainage. Reduce watering.
- What kills it
- Excessive shade and waterlogging; needs full sun and well-drained sandy soils.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly. It's resilient but needs its coastal conditions.