Goat's rue - Galega officinalis

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Goat's rue - Galega officinalis
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature

Goat's rue is an erect and largely hairless perennial plant, with spikes of small pea-like flowers that are white to bluish-purple in colour. It has lance-shaped leaves with oval leaflets. The fruits are encased in long, rounded pods, like lupins: this is another member of the very large pea family.

This is a good species for bumblebees, honey bees and general legume feeding insects. The plant was brought to Britain from mainland Europe as a medicinal herb, probably around 400 years ago, and has become widely naturalised on waste ground and railway embankments, especially in the south-east. It is otherwise known as French lilac.

Animals

Bees and wasps

Foliage	Green
Flower	Purple, June to July
Moisture	(Dry)
Sunlight	(Full sun)
Origin	Non-native