Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

Showy Tick Trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

Showy Tick Trefoil is one of the most underrated prairie wildflowers. In midsummer, its tall stems are covered in rosy-pink flower spikes that rise above lush green foliage over an extended period. 

As a member of the legume family, Showy Tick Trefoil does more than just look good. Like other legumes, it forms relationships with soil bacteria that help make nitrogen available to plants, contributing to the health of the surrounding plant community. Its sturdy upright habit allows it to hold its own among taller prairie flowers and grasses. 

Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Medium to dry; adaptable to clay, loam, and sandy soils
Height: 3–5 feet
Spread: 2–3 feet
Zones: 3–8
Bloom time: July through September

Wildlife Value
Showy Tick Trefoil is highly attractive to native bees, bumble bees, butterflies, and other pollinators that visit its nectar-rich flowers throughout the summer. As a native legume, it is also a host plant for several butterfly and moth species, including the Eastern Tailed-Blue butterfly. Later in the season, its seeds provide food for birds and other wildlife. The plant's ability to support pollinators, caterpillars, and seed-eating birds makes it a valuable contributor to a healthy prairie ecosystem.

Blooms Alongside:  purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), stiff goldenrod (Oligoneruon rigidum), New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)