Hedysarum hedysaroides aka Alpine French Honeysuckle

Hedysarum hedysaroides is a perennial in the pea family, Fabaceae. Its common name is Alpine French Honeysuckle. Kew places its native range across subarctic and subalpine Eurasia into Alaska. It grows in temperate regions and is not native to Britain or Ireland. The RHS lists Hedysarum obscurum as a synonym. Plants reach about 1.3 feet [0.4 metres] tall. This low plant can grow in cultivated garden beds.

Its wild sites include gravel bars beside rivers and rocky hills. It also grows in meadows and along roadsides. In the Alps, records place it at 3,937–8,202 feet [1,200–2,500 metres]. Its flowers have both male and female organs. Insects carry pollen between flowers. The supplied sources do not describe flower colour or flowering dates. They also give no details of leaves, stems or fruit.

Give this plant full sun and soil that drains well. It does not grow in shade and needs moist soil. Keep the soil moist through summer rather than choosing a dry site. It grows in sandy, loamy or clay soils. Its preferred soil is a deep sandy loam with good drainage. It accepts mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline conditions. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 4–8. It also reports cold tolerance to about −20°C.

Choose a lasting site early, as the roots dislike disturbance. Move young plants into their final places as soon as practical. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame, or sow in spring. Soak stored seed in warm water for 24 hours before sowing. Pot seedlings separately once they are large enough to handle. Plant them out during summer. Spring division is another option, but take care with the roots. Bacteria in root nodules capture nitrogen from the air. The plant uses some of this nitrogen; nearby plants may also benefit.

Plants For A Future reports that the roots are edible. They can be eaten raw or cooked and have a sweet taste. Harvest runs from late autumn through spring, and frost increases sweetness. The source describes the roots as nutritious and lists no known hazards. That does not establish safety for every person or pet. It reports no known medicinal uses and does not flag weed potential. The supplied evidence gives no specific pest or disease problems.