Common Restharrow (Ononis repens)

about

Restharrow is wild flowering perennial with clusters of Pinkish Purple flowers and hairy trifoliate leaves, it is a low-growing growing plant with tough stems and roots.

where

Widespread in England, Restharrow is most often found locally growing in well drained Calcareous soils, on dry grassland, waste ground and tracks, but less common further North into Scotland.

Spiny Restharrow

Common Restharrow is similar to the much less common Spiny Restharrow (Ononis spinosa) which has paired spines at the leaf axils.

Restharrow is a larval food Plant of the British Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) and Moth the Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata)