Lotus jacobaeus

Japanese name: ロツス ヤコバエウス
Scientific name: Lotus jacobaeus

[Overview]
A semi-evergreen or evergreen perennial to subshrub about 30 cm tall.
It is usually covered with silky hairs and looks grayish or green.
It branches well and grows densely.
The leaves are alternate and odd-pinnately compound with 5 leaflets, but because the basal pair resemble stipules, they look trifoliate.
The leaflets are linear to obovate, about 0.5–2 cm long.
There is no leaf stalk.
2–6 flowers are borne in an umbel-like cluster at the branch tips.
The flowers are pea-shaped, chocolate to purplish brown or yellow, sometimes changing from yellow to chocolate.
The fruit is a cylindrical pod 3–4 cm long and about 0.2 cm in diameter.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It dislikes being transplanted somewhat, so do not break up the root ball when repotting.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated place.
It dislikes heat and humidity, so during long rainy spells place potted plants where they will not be rained on, and in summer let it stay cool in an airy place in partial shade.
Take care not to overwater; for potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless sunny weather continues in summer and the soil dries out.
Fertilize sparingly; for potted plants, apply a small amount of slow-release fertilizer in spring and autumn, watching the plant's condition, and make sure no fertilizer remains in midsummer.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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