Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil
Acmispon heermannii
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
6"–18" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
CA
Pollinators
native bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaHeermann's lotus is a low, spreading perennial forb or subshrub with small trifoliate leaves and clusters of yellow pea-shaped flowers that age to red-orange. It grows in dry washes and rocky desert slopes.
Wildlife value
The pea-shaped flowers are visited by small native bees, and as a legume the plant helps enrich the surrounding soil with nitrogen.
Common questions
- How much sun does Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil need?
- Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil bloom?
- Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil native?
- Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil (Acmispon heermannii) is native to CA, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What pollinators does Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil attract?
- Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil draws native bees.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Heermann's bird's-foot trefoil? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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