Onobrychis viciifolia
Sanfoin
(c) Полина Полежанкина, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Onobrychis viciifolia (Sanfoin) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by Forage crop introduction that has rarely naturalized in suitable mountain habitats.
Sanfoin is a naturalized perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau in disturbed places at elevations of 1,000 to 1,550 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces pink flowers approximately 1 centimeter long in dense early clusters. Growing with ascending, somewhat hairy stems, it develops a distinctive structure with 15 to 21 leaflets. Its leaves have narrowly elliptic to obovate leaflets 1 to 2.5 centimeters long, uniquely marked with fine red dots on the upper surface. The fruit is ascending, approximately 6 to 7 millimeters long, with a short-prickly margin and strongly net-ridged texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Forage crop introduction that has rarely naturalized in suitable mountain habitats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed places
Elevation: 1000-1550 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, sporadic in United States, native to central and southeastern Europe
Bloom period
Onobrychis viciifolia blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Vicia: Vetches climb by leaf-tip tendrils and have flat several-seeded pods; sainfoin has tendril-less pinnate leaves and a single-seeded, net-ridged, prickly-margined pod.; vs Astragalus: Milkvetches have inflated or grooved several-seeded pods; sainfoin's pod is a flat, one-seeded disk with strong net ridges and prickly margins.; vs Hedysarum: Sweetvetch pods break into several flat rounded segments; sainfoin's pod is a single undivided netted segment.; vs Medicago: Alfalfa and medicks have 3 leaflets and coiled or curved pods; sainfoin has 15--21 leaflets and a flat toothed pod.; vs Trifolium: Clovers have 3 leaflets in dense heads; sainfoin has many-leaflet pinnate leaves and elongate pink flower spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Onobrychis viciifolia native to California?
No. Onobrychis viciifolia is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Onobrychis viciifolia bloom?
Onobrychis viciifolia blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Onobrychis viciifolia belong to?
Onobrychis viciifolia is in the Fabaceae family, genus Onobrychis.
What habitat does Onobrychis viciifolia grow in?
Onobrychis viciifolia grows in Uncommon. Disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.