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I've just been indulging in a bit of retail therapy and bought some blackcurrant flavour kidney vetch seeds and some seeds of Anthyllis montana, which is described as a woody perennial. Does anyone know if the latter can support colonies of Small Blue? It would make establishing the butterfly in gardens much easier if it can breed on sub-shrubs rather than the short-lived A. vulneraria.

Hi Chris,

I don't know what a 'sub-shrub' is

Given that A. montana is a perennial, does it have a significantly longer life than A. vulneraria? Especially in terms of (critically, as far as the Small Blue is concerned) the flowering period?

Cheers,

- Pete

Anthyllis montana is not mentioned as a foodplant in the Swiss 'Bible', though to be fair I think it is a rare plant in Switzerland. It is not mentioned in any of my other European books either. But new discoveries are made all the time ...

Guy

Thanks folks! I'm hoping that what I have is something similar to heather and certain woody forms of thyme - compact, low-growing and ideal for planting in rockeries that catch the sun. As far as I can tell, the flowering period is similar to kidney vetch.