Desmodium paniculatum var. paniculatum (Native)

Common Name
Narrow-leaf tick trefoil
Panicled tick trefoil
Velcro vine
Plant Form
Herbs
Duration
Perennial
Max Height (ft)
4.0
Region
Coastal
Piedmont
Mountain
Hardiness Zone
5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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Photographer: mewleaux
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

Photographer: mewleaux
Licensed under: CC BY-NC 4.0
Original photo: Original photo

iNaturalist Research-grade Observation Image Gallery
Additional Info

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.

Pruning Guidance
Pruning Time
Late spring (after insect emergence)
Pruning Method
Cut stems to 8–24 inches in spring
Chop-and-drop
Wildlife Benefits
Seedheads provide winter food for birds
Standing stems support overwintering insects
Cut stems retained at 8–24 inches support insect habitat
Pruning Notes
Leave stems and seedheads standing through fall and winter. Insects shelter in and on the stems. In late spring, after several nights above 50°F, cut the old stems to 8 to 24 inches at varied heights. Bees and other insects nest in the cut stubs the following summer. Lay the cut tops loosely in the bed so insects still inside can emerge. Seeds are eaten by quail and wild turkeys. Sticky seed pods cling to clothing.
Flower Color
Cream/White
Purple/lavender
Flower Prominence
Conspicuous
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Summer
Late Summer
Fall
Light Requirements
Full sun
Partial sun
Shade
Moisture Requirements
Moist
Soil Texture
Clay
Loamy
Seed or Fruit eaten by wildlife?
Yes
Pollinators
Butterfiles
Recommended for
Butterfly garden
Pollinator garden
Songbirds
Species-specific links
Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora - Species Account
North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox - Species Account
Virginia Native Plant Finder