Hylodesmum glutinosum
pointed-leaved tick-trefoil
Overview
Hylodesmum glutinosum, pointed-leaved tick-trefoil, is an herbaceous perennial legume of shaded woodlands, reaching 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) tall. A whorl of three-part leaves sits partway up the stem, each leaflet broadly oval and tapering to a long point, 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long. Above the leaves a slender, often branched flower stalk rises in summer, bearing small pink to pale purple pea-like flowers about 0.25 inch (6 mm) across, widely spaced along the stalk. The flowers form flattened, jointed seed pods covered in hooked hairs that cling tightly to fur and clothing and carry the seed away. It grows from a fibrous crown in rich, moist deciduous woods across eastern and central North America. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and grows in low light beneath the forest canopy, though the clinging pods can be a nuisance on clothing and pets. H. glutinosum is grown in woodland and native shade gardens for its early-summer flowers and as a host plant for butterflies.
Native Range
Hylodesmum glutinosum is native to eastern and central North America, from Quebec and Ontario south to Georgia and west to the Great Plains. It grows in rich, moist to dry deciduous woods and on shaded slopes. It is common in the forests of the Midwest and Northeast.Suggested Uses
Pointed-leaved tick-trefoil is grown in woodland gardens, shaded native plantings, and naturalized areas. It is a larval host for several butterfly species and draws bees to its flowers. The seeds are eaten by woodland birds and small mammals.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in early to midsummer, roughly June through August. The small flowers open along the upper stalk over two to three weeks. Hooked seed pods form afterward and cling to passing animals into fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Pink to pale purpleFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 4 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow pointed-leaved tick-trefoil in part to full shade in rich, moist, well-drained woodland soil with abundant leaf litter. As a nitrogen-fixing legume it needs no fertilizer and grows in the low light of the forest floor. Established plants tolerate summer dryness once the canopy shades the ground. It is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and dies back to the crown each winter. It self-sows readily, and the sticky pods spread seed widely. It has few pests, though foliage may be browsed by deer and rabbits.Pruning
Cut the dead stems to the ground in late fall or winter. Removing the seed stalks before the pods ripen limits self-sowing and the spread of clinging seed. No other pruning is needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fallwinter