Sainfoin is grown all over the world as animal fodder and is also known to attract wildlife, especially bees, since it produces large quantities of nectar and pollen and pollination is mainly carried out by insects that visit the plant.
Its preferred habitat is on unimproved chalk grassland but it also grows in limestone areas. It is able to grow in relatively infertile soil and also in very alkaline conditions. It does however, require full sun and moist soil.
Sainfoin can be easily identified since it is the only member of the pea family to have a spike of pink flowers. The leaves grow in pairs and are red-dotted and oval in appearance.