Showy Tick Trefoil

Desmodium canadense

Perennial Locally native Chelsea chop

Flower colour

Pink to rosy-purple

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Height

24–60"

Light

Full sun to part shade

Moisture

Average, but may tolerate some dry conditions once estabblished

Native to Ontario

Yes

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