Source: Margaret Unger
Desmodium canadense
Canada Tick-trefoil
Desmodie du Canada
Obsolete Names
showy tick-trefoil
Seeds available at table Mixed Sun, Medium
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Purple
Bloom period: Jul - Aug
Max Height: 5.0 feet
Max Width: 1.0 feet
Light condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Does not spread uncontrollably
Self-seeding
Does not spread uncontrollably
Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Suitable for container garden
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Suitable for rock gardens
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for shoreline rehabilitation
Suitable for container garden
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Supports pollinators
Butterfly host
Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Tolerates:
Tolerates drought conditions
Tolerates salt conditions
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Tolerates drought conditions
Tolerates salt conditions
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant produces burs
This plant produces burs
Plant Location
Native to Ottawa region: Yes
Thrives in Ecozones
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Desmodium canadense
- Cecropterus lyciades (Hoary Edge)
Specialized Bees Supported by Desmodium canadense
No bee data available for this plant.
Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.
Complementary Plants
- Doellingeria umbellata
Flat-topped White Aster
Aster à ombelles - Helianthus giganteus
Giant Sunflower
Hélianthe géant - Solidago rigida
Stiff Goldenrod
Verge d'or rigide - Sorghastrum nutans
Yellow False-sorghum
Faux-sorgho penché - Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
New England Aster
Aster de Nouvelle-Angleterre
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Lamium (Dead nettle)
- Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
- Delphinium (Delphinium)
Sowing Information
Download Sowing Label (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
- Sow anytime
- Stratification duration: 0 days
- Self-seeding
- Notes: Can be sown in late spring in warm soil. Scarify if not hulled.
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: August
- Harvesting indicator: Seeds easily fall off when you gently pull them off
- Harvesting mean: Shake seed head in paper bag
- Seed viability test: No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: 1 rounded 1/8 teaspoon
- Seed storage: Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp, shaking seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- At least one cultivar: No, you can donate without knowing the source as there are only straight species
- No harvesting video available at this time.
Toxicity Notes
Inadequate information on toxicity found.