Seasonal Wild Flowers

Petty Whin

Genista anglica

Fabaceae

April to July

It is scattered throughout the country, but is most common

in the South and Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Petty Whin

In lowland, it grows on damp heaths and on the drier

edges of bogs. In upland areas it grows in damp,

unimproved pastures.

It is on the decline in England

Petty Whin is a native, nitrogen-fixing, small, spiny,

wiry, shrub, growing up to 1m.

The flowers are in short spikes, yellow, up to 1cm with

the keel petals longer than the standard.

The leaves are pointed ovals.

It is weakly spined.

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Petty Whin, Powerstock Common, Dorset

Rather diffuse growth form

Flower spike

Close-up of flowers

Young leaves and old spines

Pointed oval leaves, young sp[ne