Quick answer: Showy tick trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is native to 29 states. What's commonly sold under this name is the true wild species. It's typically seed, verified 16 Sep 2026.
Photo: Jennifer Anderson. United States, IA, Scott Co., Davenport, Nahant Marsh. 2002., Wikimedia Commons (PUBLIC DOMAIN)
Where it's native
Listed in the directory as native to these states. Click a state for its full native-plant guide.
Growing conditions
From the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.
| Sun | Sun |
|---|---|
| Water | Dry-Moist |
| Soil | Moist soils, indifferent to soil acidity |
| Bloom | Bloom Jun-Sep |
| Height | Up to 6 ft tall |
| Wildlife value | Attracts butterflies/hummingbirds, larval host for Eastern Tailed Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper, and Hoary Edge, special value to bumble bees |
Can "take over a small garden" per conditions comments; not formally regulated.
Buying it
Sold true to the wild species as of the last check (16 Sep 2026), via Amazon.
Sold as: Seed via Amazon · listing verified 16 Sep 2026
See where to buy →Quick answers about Showy tick trefoil
Where is Showy tick trefoil native?
Showy tick trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is native to 29 states across the Northeast, Midwest and South. Check your state's page in this directory for the full list of plants native where you live.
When does Showy tick trefoil bloom?
Showy tick trefoil blooms Jun-Sep. Exact timing shifts a few weeks with latitude and elevation.
What growing conditions does Showy tick trefoil need?
Light: Sun. Water: Dry-Moist. Soil: Moist soils, indifferent to soil acidity. Mature height: Up to 6 ft tall.
Is Showy tick trefoil good for pollinators and wildlife?
Yes. Wildlife value: Attracts butterflies/hummingbirds, larval host for Eastern Tailed Blue, Silver-spotted Skipper, and Hoary Edge, special value to bumble bees.
Is Showy tick trefoil deer-resistant or drought-tolerant?
Showy tick trefoil is drought-tolerant.
Where can I buy real Showy tick trefoil seed or plants?
We found a listing sold as seed that names the true species, last checked 16 Sep 2026. Look for the scientific name Desmodium canadense on any listing.
Similar native plants
Native plants that share growing conditions or range with Showy tick trefoil.
- Eastern red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
- Butterflyweed Asclepias tuberosa
- Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
- Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa
- Big bluestem Andropogon gerardii
- Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
Also listed under
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