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Birds Foot Trefoil in the GardenTags plant encyclopedia

Lotus corniculatus

 

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Lotus can be annuals, perennials, deciduous or evergreen tender tropical shrubs. Lotus corniculatus is a common perennial deciduous flowering plant in the pea family native to grassland in temperate Eurasia and North Africa. It is hardy, and has leaves that are held in groups of 5, with one pair below a terminal trio. From late Spring to early Autumn, red-tinted buds open to yellow pea-like flowers, and these are followed by long, slender seed pods. Attractive to bees, and are a good source of larval food source for some moths

 
plant Features
  • Birds Foot Trefoil likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Birds Foot Trefoil likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

  • Birds Foot Trefoil is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Birds Foot Trefoil likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

 
plant information

Common name

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Latin name

Lotus corniculatus

type

Hardy Perennial

family

Fabaceae

ph

6.6 - 8.5 Acid - Neutral

  • Light

    Birds Foot Trefoil likes full sun

    Full sun

  • Frost

    Birds Foot Trefoil is full frost hardy: 5f (-15°c)

    Full Frost Hardy: 5F (-15°C)

  • Soil

    Birds Foot Trefoil likes moist and free draining

    Moist and free draining

  • Water

    Birds Foot Trefoil likes occasional watering

    Occasional watering

Plant & bloom calendar

  •  
    Best time to plant
  •  
    When the plant will bloom

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown Birds Foot Trefoil is 0.50meters x 0.20meters 0.50 M 0.20 M

Lotus corniculatus

Lotus can be annuals, perennials, deciduous or evergreen tender tropical shrubs. Lotus corniculatus is a common perennial deciduous flowering plant in the pea family native to grassland in temperate Eurasia and North Africa. It is hardy, and has leaves that are held in groups of 5, with one pair below a terminal trio. From late Spring to early Autumn, red-tinted buds open to yellow pea-like flowers, and these are followed by long, slender seed pods. Attractive to bees, and are a good source of larval food source for some moths


Flowering

From Mid Spring TO Early Autumn

The yellow pea-like flowers appear in Spring right through to Autumn

 

Planting

From Early Spring TO Mid Spring

Plant in moist, free-draining, neutral or alkaline soil in sunny site that is shaded from mid Summer sun. Makes a good container or hanging-basket plant. In cooler climes can be grown as an annual - or will need to be brought indoors when the weather cools

 

Propagating by seed

From Early Spring TO Late Spring

Sow seeds in a pot or tray filled with proprietary seed-sowing compost, or a 50/50 mix of multi-purpose compost and perlite or coarse grit. Sow large seeds with space between the seeds, and sow small seeds thinly, and cover the seeds with a thin layer of sieved compost (unless it is a type of seed that needs light to germinate). Water gently with a fine rose on the watering-can, allowing excess water to drain away.

 
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