Desmodium canadense

Scientific Name: Desmodium canadense

Common Name: Showy Tick Trefoil

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Blooming Time: July to August

Bloom Duration: 4 to 6 weeks

Fragrance: No noticeable fragrance

Plant Growing Habit: Upright, clump-forming

Characteristics: A native North American perennial featuring tall, upright stems with attractive clusters of pea-like pink to purple flowers. The blooms are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while the seed pods provide food for wildlife. Its deep root system improves soil structure and helps stabilize landscapes. An excellent choice for native gardens, pollinator plantings, woodland edges, meadows, and naturalized areas. As a member of the pea family, it helps enrich soil through nitrogen fixation.

Spacing: 45 to 60 cm apart

Height: 90 to 150 cm

Width: 45 to 60 cm

Maintenance Requirements: Low maintenance. Prefers moist, well-drained soil, but adapts to average garden conditions. Performs best in full sun but tolerates partial shade. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish a strong root system; once established, it is moderately drought-tolerant. Avoid excessive fertilization, as it may encourage weak growth. Cut back old stems in late fall or early spring before new growth begins. Minimal care is required once established, and it is well suited to Canadian native and pollinator gardens in Zones 3–8.