Image of Desmodium paniculatum
Source: peganum
image of Flowering plant
Desmodium paniculatum
Panicled Tick-trefoil
Desmodie paniculée

Obsolete Names

narrow-leaved tick-trefoil
panicled-leaved tick-trefoil
No seeds available for this plant.
We currently accept seeds for this plant
Bloom colour: Pink Bloom period: Jul - Sep
Max Height: 3.0 feet
Max Width: 1.0 feet
Light condition:
Full shade Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Moisture dry Tolerates dry soil condition
Moisture medium Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan: Perennial plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
does not spread Does not spread uncontrollably
plant germinate easy Easy to germinate
plant self seeding Self-seeding
Landscape uses:
rock garden Suitable for rock gardens
container suitable Suitable for container garden
school garden Suitable for school gardens
woodland garden Suitable for woodland gardens
foot traffic tolerant Tolerates foot traffic
Ecological Benefits:
Pollinator garden Supports pollinators
butterfly host Butterfly host
nitrogen fixer Fixes nitrogen in the soil
Tolerates:
foot traffic Tolerant Tolerates foot traffic
limestone Tolerant Tolerates limestone conditions
transplantation Tolerant Tolerates transplantation
Special Features and Considerations:
produces burs This plant produces burs

Plant Location

Native to Ottawa region: No

Distribution according to VASCAN

Distribution: Desmodium paniculatum
Ephemeral Native Introduced Excluded Extirpated Doubtful Absent
View taxonomy on Canadensys

View on iNaturalist

Thrives in Ecozones

  • Mixed Wood Plains

Ecological Benefits

Butterflies Supported by Desmodium paniculatum

  • Cecropterus lyciades (Hoary Edge)
  • Thorybes pylades (Northern Cloudywing)

Specialized Bees Supported by Desmodium paniculatum

No bee data available for this plant.

Plants that grow in similar conditions, that bloom at the same time.

Complementary Plants

  • No complementary plants found.

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: September
  • 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.