Perennial legumes play an important role in fodder production in our country and their spreading is largely influenced by longevity and viability of seeds. In the process of evolution, some plants, for example – some legumes, have obtained some morphological characteristics, concerning the seed structure, that have led to the formation of a hard coat which maintains seed viability under adverse conditions and with age. This type of seeds is also specific to Galega orientalis Lam. – fodder, melliferous and promising energy plant species. 1, 2, 3, 4, 20 and 23 year-old seeds of Galega orientalis Lam., which had been harvested from the collection of fodder plants of the Botanical Garden (Institute) of the ASM, were used as material for research. In order to determine the germination energy and the germination percentage, the method for determining the germination of the seeds of agricultural crops was used: „Семена сельскохозяйственных культур. Методы определения всхожести, ГОСТ 12038-84” [1]. In order to determine the germination energy and the germination percentage, according to the above mentioned method, there were taken 6 samples of 50 seeds each (in 2 repetitions) from different years of harvesting – 1 (2014), 2 (2013), 3 (2012), 20 (1995) and 23 (1992) year-old seeds. The seeds were placed in Petri dishes on filter paper and placed in a thermostat for 14 days under conditions of constant temperature of 20 ºC and lack of light. On the third day, according to the method, the germination energy was determined; it turned out to be higher in seeds that had been harvested in 1992 and 2013 – about 8%. Seeds harvested in 1995 and 2012 had germination energy of 4%. The lowest germination energy index was in one year-old seeds, harvested in 2014; in this case the percentage was practically zero. In order to determine the germination percentage, seeds were counted on the 14th day according to the method. It was observed that seeds harvested 1 year ago (2014) have the lowest germination percentage – about 4%, being followed by the germination percentage of seeds harvested 23 years ago (1992) – 32%. The seeds harvested 3 years ago (2012) – 58% and those harvested 20 years ago (1995) – about 58% are at approximately the same level of germination percentage. The highest germination percentage was found in seeds harvested in 2013 – about 76%. It should be noted that about 4% of seeds from each sample got mouldy during the test, being omitted, and the rest of the seeds that didn’t germinate were classified as hard seeds. According to the method, hard seeds of forage legumes are also considered capable of germination. Since the seeds of Galega orientalis Lam. have a very hard coat, in order to increase their germination percentage and germination energy, mechanical, chemical or thermic scarification is necessary [2]. Mechanical scarification, after which it was observed that germination energy reached up to 94% and the germination percentage reached up to 98%, regardless of the year of harvesting, is the most frequently used and the safest for health. In conclusion, it should be mentioned that the seeds of Galega orientalis Lam., due to their properties and their hard coat, can retain their viability, under appropriate conditions, even over 23 years.Germination energy and germination percentage are higher in seeds that were harvested several years ago than in recently harvested ones (which haven’t been scarified). This is possible due to the fact that some of the cells from the layers of the hard coat that protects the seed are destroyed in the course of time, increasing permeability.