Erinacea anthyllis

RHS Plant Profile
hedgehog broom

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Erinacea anthyllis?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
hedgehog broom RHS 1999
hedgehog broom RHS 1999

Other common names

blue broom, branch thorn, hedgehog plant, rushy kidney vetch

Synonyms

Erinacea pungens
Anthyllis erinacea

Shrubs Alpine Rockery
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

A dwarf shrub forming a dense hummock to 30cm in height, with very sparse, small leaves. Flowers 2cm in length, purplish-blue, in small clusters from late spring to early summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Erinacea are dwarf, spiny, evergreen subshrubs with simple or trifoliate leaves and pea-like blue flowers borne in small clusters in the leaf axils
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
W Mediterranean

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in deep, gritty, very well-drained soil in full sun. Long-lived and slow-growing

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in an open frame in autumn. Propagate by rooting semi-hardwood cuttings in late spring or early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids and glasshouse red spider mite when grown under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free