Description

Key Information:

Soil: Mesic (Medium)
Sun: Full Sun
Height: 2-5 feet
Bloom Color: Dark Pink
Bloom Season: July – August

More Details:

Suggested Uses: Showy Tick Trefoil is a relatively tall legume that has showy pink flowers. It has “sticky” seeds which will attach to clothing.  It is a good plant to use for restoration of wet meadows, shoreline and for rain gardens. It is a great option for heavy clay soils. Upland gamebirds enjoy the seeds.

Native Range:  Native to the Midwest and Northeast. Native throughout Minnesota.

Pollinators:  Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds. Host plant for the Eastern Tailed Blue and Gray Hairstreak butterflies.

Flowers: The 1/2″ pea-like flowers bloom in a long terminal cluster.

Leaves: The compound leaves are divided into 3 oblong leaflets. The entire plant is hairy.

Interesting Facts:

Other Uses:  It is good for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Makes a nice cut flower, as well.
Name: “Desmodium” means “long branch” or “chain” in Greek. Referring to the formation of the seed pods. They stick to your clothes – thus the common name “tick.”
More information: USDA plant profile