Naked-flowered Tick Trefoil Hylodesmum nudiflorum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Desmodium nudiflorum
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-LOW-des-mum noo-dih-FLORE-um
- Description
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Nakedflower Ticktrefoil is a native wildflower in the pea family that prefers open woodlands in mature hardwood forests in moist, sandy, gravelly or loamy soil with high organic content. It is a nitrogen-fixing species through symbiosis with soil-borne bacteria.
The delicate pinkish blooms are sweetly fragrant and occur mid to late summer and are visited by bees. They appear on a naked stem in clusters and are reminiscent of pea-like blooms. Use in a woodland or native garden.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hylodesmum
- Species:
- nudiflorum
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Eastern Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees. Host plant to Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a flat pod called a loment and is divided into 1-4 segments. It is covered in hooked short hairs to attach to objects like your clothes and animal fur.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 0.3 in. rose-purple flowers are borne on leafless stems in 1 or more clusters. The bloom has a rounded upper petal and 3 narrower lower petals that are longer than the upper. Blooms mid to late summer.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaf stalk arises separately from the flower stalk. The leaves are compound and arranged in threes in a tight cluster. Individual leaflets are 2-3½" long and 1½-2½" across. The terminal leaf is larger than the lateral leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is light green to reddish-green with short hairs.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Fire
