Showy Tick-TrefoilDesmodium canadense
Native, adaptable, perennial legume about 3-6' tall, that is aggressive, self-sows and often forms clumps. Suited for perennial gardens because of its showy flowers that bloom over a long period. It is also good for woodland habitats and prairie restorations. This species should be a component in seeding mixtures for prairie restorations, especially with warm-season grasses.
USDA symbol: DECA7
General Information
| Plant Type | Forb |
|---|---|
| Height | 4 to 5 feet |
| Light Exposure | Sun, Part Sun |
| Soil Moisture | Medium |
| Bloom Color | Pink |
Tolerances
| Flooding / Inundation Tolerance | High |
|---|---|
| General Resilience | 8 |
| Salt Tolerance | Low |
| Stress Tolerance | General Disturbance |
Pollinator Value: Very High
| Bloom Months | July to August |
|---|---|
| Larval Host of | Bees, Butterflies, Moths |
| Specific Pollinators Hosted | Achalarus lyciades, Grapholita fana, Megachile dakotensis, Thorybes bathyllus, Thorybes pylades |
| Pollinator Benefit | Insect Pollinated, Provides Nectar, Supports Specialists |
Project Planning
| Project Type | Restoration, Upland Buffer |
|---|---|
| Coefficient of Conservatism | 5 |
| Herbivore Sensitivity | Medium |
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Rate of Spread | Slow |
| Soil Stabilization | Shallow |
| Vegetative Reproduction | Absent |
Range
| County | Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Sherburne, Sibley, St. Louis, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine |
|---|---|
| Ecoregion | Driftless Area, Lake Agassiz Plain, North Central Hardwood Forests, Northern Glaciated Plains, Northern Lakes and Forests, Northern Minnesota Wetlands, Western Cornbelt Plains |
| Approximate Eco Province | Eastern Broadleaf Forest, Laurentian Mixed Forest, Prairie Parkland, Tallgrass Aspen Parklands |