Showy Tick Trefoil

Desmodium canadense

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  • Common name
    Showy Tick Trefoil
  • Latin name
    Desmodium canadense
  • Plant type
    perennial
  • Flower color
    Pink to rosy-purple
  • Bloom time
    Mid to late summer
  • Height
    24–60"
  • Chelsea chop
    Yes
  • Light requirements
    Full sun to part shade
  • Moisture
    Average, but may tolerate some dry conditions once estabblished
  • Native to Ontario
    Yes
  • Locally native
    Yes
  • Deer resistant
    No
  • Ecological benefit
    Hosts caterpillars of several skipper butterflies (e.g., Silver-spotted Skipper). Nitrogen-fixing legume → improves soil fertility Excellent nectar source for native bees and butterflies Seeds eaten by birds and small mammals
  • Notes
    Deep roots make it drought-tolerant and good for prairie restoration. Works well in meadow or naturalized plantings
  • Picture
    Showy Tick Trefoil