Characteristics
- Annual, hairy plant
- Leaves: finely structured, soft
- Stem: hollow, stable
- Height: up to 70 cm
- Flowers: white to light blue, in coiled spikes which uncoil during flowering
- Root: taproot, extending to a depth of 60-150 cm into the soil (primary and hair roots combined)
- Dies off at temperatures below -8 °C
- Fast juvenile development
Environmental needs
- Good, fresh, well aerated soils
- Able to tolerate dry and acidic soils
- Needs warmth and moisture
Use
- Popular cover crop
- Forage/silage in mixtures; no outstanding forage qualities
Green manure
- Good weed suppressant
- Tilth improver
- Generates a good root system and good tilth
- Medium to good value as a forecrop
- Neutral crop rotation effect for full flexibility
- Avoided by pests
- Good bee forage
