Desmodium incanum
creeping beggarweed
Overview
Desmodium incanum is a sprawling perennial legume reaching 8–24 inches (20–60 cm) in height, with trailing stems that root at the nodes and spread 12–36 inches (30–90 cm) across. The trifoliate leaves measure 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) long, often marked with a pale greenish-white blotch along the midrib of each leaflet, and are covered in short hooked hairs. From late spring through fall, slender racemes carry pea-shaped flowers 0.2–0.3 inch (5–8 mm) wide that open pink and age to reddish-purple. Each flower gives way to a segmented seed pod, or loment, of 4–8 joints densely coated in hooked hairs that cling to fur and clothing, dispersing the seed and accounting for the common name beggarweed. The plant grows from a woody taproot that anchors it in dry, disturbed ground and allows regrowth after grazing or mowing. It colonizes lawns, pastures, roadsides, and open woodland edges, where its mat-forming stems compete with turf grasses. In cultivated settings it is used as a nitrogen-fixing cover and forage legume, though its clinging seeds and spreading habit make it persistent once established. Growth slows below 50°F (10°C), and frost kills the top growth in subtropical parts of its range.
Native Range
Desmodium incanum is native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, ranging from the southeastern United States through Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America into South America. It has naturalized in Africa, Asia, and Pacific islands, where it grows as a weed of pastures and disturbed land.Suggested Uses
Used as a nitrogen-fixing cover crop and forage legume in warm regions, and as low groundcover on dry banks. Its spreading, mat-forming stems also stabilize disturbed soil, though the clinging seeds limit its use near lawns and walkways.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from late spring through fall, with peak bloom in summer; in frost-free areas it can flower nearly year-round. Individual racemes open a few flowers at a time over several weeks. Each pollinated flower forms a hooked loment that ripens within a few weeks.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pink to reddish-purpleFoliage Description
Green with a pale midrib blotchGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight