Showy Tick-Trefoil
(Desmodium canadense)
Showy Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium canadense)
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Reuven Martin
Public Domain
Image By:
Reuven Martin
Recorded By:
Copyright:
Public Domain
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Reuven Martin | License Type: Public Domain | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ | Rights Holder: Reuven Martin | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2018-08-04T12:31:38-07:00 |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Desmodium canadense, commonly known as Showy Tick-Trefoil, is a semi-deciduous perennial herb native to a broad range of habitats including prairies, open woodlands, and forest edges in the Central and Eastern USA, as well as Southeast Canada. It typically grows to a height of 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters) and a width of 2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters). The plant features compound leaves and erect, branching stems. Its flowers are showy, pea-shaped, and range in color from pink to purple, blooming from July to September and attracting pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds.
Showy Tick-Trefoil is valued for its ornamental qualities and its role as a larval host plant for butterflies including the eastern tailed-blue, silver-spotted skipper, and hoary edge. It is used in native plant gardens, pollinator gardens, and for naturalizing areas. This species thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade and is adaptable to various soil types with slow, medium, or fast drainage. While it requires low to medium amounts of water, it is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Gardeners should be aware that it can self-seed and spread, potentially becoming aggressive in some conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Showy Tick-Trefoil is valued for its ornamental qualities and its role as a larval host plant for butterflies including the eastern tailed-blue, silver-spotted skipper, and hoary edge. It is used in native plant gardens, pollinator gardens, and for naturalizing areas. This species thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade and is adaptable to various soil types with slow, medium, or fast drainage. While it requires low to medium amounts of water, it is relatively drought-tolerant once established. Gardeners should be aware that it can self-seed and spread, potentially becoming aggressive in some conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 3-5 feet
- Width: 2-3 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: Pink, Purple
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Semi-Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Drought Tolerant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Prairies, open woodlands, and forest edges
Other Names
Common Names: Showy Tick Trefoil, Canadian Tick-Trefoil, Canada Tickclover, Canada Tick-Trefoil, Showy Tick-Trefoil, Desmodie Du Canada, Lusväppling, Canada Tickclover
Scientific Names: , Desmodium canadense, Hedysarum canadense, Meibomia canadensis, Hedysarum canadensis, Pleurolobus canadensis, Desmodium canadense var. minus, Edusaron canadense, Hedysarum candense, Hedysarum scabrum,
GBIF Accepted Name: Desmodium canadense (L.) DC.