Habitat: Dry to mesic open forests, woodlands, clearings, old fields, and roadsides. Common throughout Virginia
Wildlife Value: The genus Desmodium is a larval host plant for many species of butterfly, including the Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades), Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades), Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) and Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas). In the winter, its seeds serve as a food source for songbirds, quail, and small mammals.
High Value Generalist
Earth Sangha lists this plant as a "High Value Generalist" because it is easy to grow, occurs across a wide range of habitats and is known to be of high value to wildlife
My Native Garden
Put together a printable/downloadable list of plants that you have in your garden.