Galega hartlandii Duchess of Bedford

Galega hartlandii Duchess of Bedford is a stunning perennial plant, robust and carefree, quickly forming a huge bushy clump, with decorative light green foliage, and a very long and generous flowering in pale pink, scented during the summer. A rural giant that will bring a touch of the countryside to the garden!

The Galega, commonly known as Goat's Rue, is native to southern Europe and western Asia and belongs to the Papilionaceae family. The Galega hartlandii Duchess of Bedford is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial, with great vigour and an imposing size, measuring approximately 1.20m (4ft) in height and 50-60cm (20-24in) in spread. It quickly forms a huge upright and bushy clump. Its deciduous foliage is composed of beautiful pinnate leaves, measuring 8 to 20cm (3 to 8in) long, in a beautiful light green colour. Very floriferous over a long period, it displays, on tall well-branched stems, from June to September, large upright clusters of butterfly-like flowers, in a delightful pale pink colour, slightly scented. Their scent is reminiscent of coconut.

This Galega, extremely hardy and easy to grow, will thrive in any good moist garden soil in a sunny location. With its large dimensions and abundant and long-lasting summer flowering, it will be perfect for enhancing and animating a border or a flower bed, when planted in the background. Requiring space, it is advisable to leave about 50cm (20in) of space around its base, so that it can flourish without encroaching on other perennials. A plant with a resolutely wild appearance, this Galega is perfectly suited to less maintained areas of the garden or country gardens, especially since it readily self-seeds. It pairs well with other carefree and countryside-looking perennials, such as Daylilies, Daisies, Grasses, Japanese Anemones, Foxgloves, Delphiniums... It can also be planted at the base of a Climbing Rose or a Clematis to enhance their base. Its flowering stems make beautiful countryside bouquets, delicately scented.

The term Galega is derived from the Greek word gala, which means milk, referring to the lactogenic properties of Galega flowers, used in herbal medicine to promote milk production in women. Goats appreciate their foliage, hence its common name Goat's Rue.