Common Names: Showy Tick Trefoil
Scientific Name: Desmodium canadense
 
Plant Characteristics
• Duration: Perennial
• Size: Typically grows to a height of 3–5 ft., with upright, branching stems.
• Foliage: Three-parted, medium to dark green leaves with a slightly hairy texture.
• Bloom Color: Showy clusters of pink to purple pea-like flowers.
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Early Fall
 
Growing Conditions
• Water Use: Low to Medium
• Light Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil Moisture: Dry to Medium
 
Ecological Benefits
Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is a native perennial of the Mid-Atlantic Piedmont, commonly found in meadows, woodland edges, and open areas. Its showy flowers attract a variety of native pollinators, including bees and butterflies, while its seeds provide food for birds and other wildlife. As a legume, it also contributes to soil health through its relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
 
This plant's upright form and extensive root system provide habitat and help stabilize soil, making it a valuable addition to meadow plantings, pollinator gardens, and ecological restoration projects.
 
Local Ecotype: This plant is available as a local ecotype variety. Our team hand-collects seeds from native wildflowers growing in conservation areas we manage, and these plants are grown from that locally collected seed. Local ecotypes are adapted to the conditions of their native region and can help preserve local genetic diversity, support regional wildlife, and strengthen the ecological resilience of native plant communities.

*Image sourced from Ernst Seeds