Tick Trefoil, Showy

Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

Showy Tick Trefoil is a tall, native perennial that thrives in prairies, meadows, and woodland edges. Known for its vibrant purple-pink flower clusters, this nitrogen-fixing legume plays an essential role in supporting wildlife and improving soil health. Its flowers attract pollinators, while its seeds feed birds and small mammals. Showy Tick Trefoil also has traditional medicinal uses, making it an excellent addition to native plant gardens, pollinator habitats, and permaculture systems.

Key Characteristics:

• Pollinator Magnet: Showy Tick Trefoil's vibrant blooms attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird and various native bee species rely on its nectar during its summer bloom.

• Nitrogen Fixer for Soil Health: As a legume, Showy Tick Trefoil forms a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, helping to fix nitrogen and enrich the soil. This makes it a valuable plant in permaculture systems, silvopasture, and naturalized landscapes.

• Wildlife Benefits: In addition to pollinators, Showy Tick Trefoil provides food for birds and small mammals. Its seeds are consumed by species such as sparrows and wild turkeys, while its foliage offers shelter for ground-dwelling wildlife.

• Traditional Medicinal Uses: Native American tribes traditionally used the root of Showy Tick Trefoil to treat skin irritations and sores. The plant’s medicinal properties extend to treating fevers and inflammation through teas made from the roots and leaves.

• Perfect for Meadows and Woodland Edges: Thriving in medium-dry to medium-wet soils, Showy Tick Trefoil adds a splash of color to native meadows, pollinator gardens, and woodland edges, while contributing to the overall health of your ecosystem.

Product Details:

• Native Range: North America
• Plant Life Cycle: Perennial
• Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Requirements: Medium-dry to medium-wet
• Mature Height: 3-6 feet
• Bloom Time: Summer (July to September)
• Bloom Color: Purple-pink
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8

Add Showy Tick Trefoil to your landscape for its stunning flowers, pollinator support, and soil-enhancing properties.