Serradella (Ornithopus sativus)
Care, watering, light and tips for Serradella on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Fabaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 5 days
- Light: Full sun
- Temperature: 5–35 °C
About Serradella
Ornithopus sativus, commonly known as 'fugleklo' (bird's foot in Norwegian), is an annual legume from the Fabaceae family, valued for its forage qualities and as a cover crop. It features slender, trailing stems with pinnate leaves and small yellow or white flowers clustered in inflorescences resembling a bird's claw. It is ideal for improving soil health in vegetable gardens and allotments, or as part of natural meadow mixes.
Native range
Mediterranean region: from Southern Europe to North Africa and Southwest Asia.
Care tips
It requires full sun exposure for optimal growth, although it toler tolerates some partial shade. Watering should be moderate, ensuring the soil dries out slightly between waterings, as it does not tolerate waterlogging. It prefers well-drained soils, slightly acidic to neutral, and benefits from good aeration. A common mistake is sowing it in heavy, compacted soils, which hinders its root development and nitrogen fixation.
How to save a dying Serradella
- Warning signs
- Yellowish or reddish leaves, weak and drooping stems, lack of flowering.
- First aid
- Move to a location with more direct sunlight, improve soil drainage, and reduce watering.
- What kills it
- Excessive shade and waterlogged soil, which quickly rots its roots.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly to correct light and watering before the damage is irreversible.