Sub-shrub of the Fabaceae family, confined to sandy coastlines and stabilized or semi-stabilized dunes of western Atlantic and Mediterranean Europe. It colonizes maritime sands, interdunal depressions, and stabilized dune grasslands, fully exposed to wind and sun.
It forms low and very spreading clumps, with prostrate to ascending stems, creeping over the substrate and capable of covering a considerable area without exceeding 10 to 20 cm in height. The leaves are trifoliate, with small, oval, distinctly toothed leaflets of a fairly deep dark green, borne on pubescent stems with marked reddish hues. The entire foliage is dense and tight, forming a compact carpet well adapted to coastal conditions.
The papilionaceous flowers are lilac-pink to pale pink, with wings often lighter, almost whitish, contrasting with the more colorful standard. They are inserted directly into the foliage, without clearly exceeding the vegetation, giving them a nestled and discreet appearance despite their relative size. In its natural habitat, its flowering extends from June to August.
In cultivation, it requires a sandy, very well-drained, poor soil, in full sun exposure. Adapted to sea spray and winds, it poorly tolerates heavy and wet substrates. It finds its place in seaside gardens, sandy rockeries, and compositions with a dune character.