Stylosanthes biflora
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Stylosanthes biflora var. hispidissima
- Stylosanthes floridana
- Stylosanthes riparia
- Stylosanthes riparia var. setifera
- Phonetic Spelling
- sty-lo-SAN-theez by-FLOR-uh
- Description
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Pencil Flower is a native perennial wildflower in the legume family found in central and eastern USA in dry woods, fields and thickets. It is found throughout NC. The plant grows .5 to 1.5 feet tall and the yellow pea-like flowers bloom from late spring to fall, but rather sparsely. Bees pollinate the flowers and deer and rabbits will browse the leaves. There is some variation in the leaves and flowers throughout its range.
This plant prefers acidic somewhat poor soils, due to less competition, in full sun to partial shade. It is generally not used in cultivation and is hard to find but could be grown in naturalized areas.
- 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:
- Stylosanthes
- Species:
- biflora
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Eastern U.S.A
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , AZ , DC , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
- Wildlife Value:
- Host plant to Barred Yellow butterfly.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Small pea-like flowers with 5 yellow petals growing singly or in small clusters at the end of the branches. Flowers late spring through fall.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Compound leaves with 3 leaflets. Upper surface medium green and undersides are paler with short hairs. Leaflets are .5 to 1.5 inches long and oval.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Bristle-tipped, wiry stems
