Large-Flowered Tickclover
Hylodesmum glutinosum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Desmodium glutinosum, or pointed-leaf tick trefoil, is a woodland forb that blooms pale purple from June through August and thrives in part shade under a hardwood canopy.
Toxicity unknown
Large-Flowered Tickclover (Hylodesmum glutinosum) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AL, AR, CT, DE and 29 more states
Pollinators
bees, butterflies
Before you buy
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Pointed-leaved tick-trefoil is a native woodland perennial with three-leaflet compound leaves and small pink to purple flowers in summer. It produces sticky seed pods that readily attach to clothing and animal fur for dispersal. This shade-tolerant plant works well in naturalized areas and woodland gardens.
In an HOA neighborhood
Large-Flowered Tickclover takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Sticky seed pods attach to clothing and pets
- Can appear weedy and informal
- May spread beyond intended areas
Wildlife value
The flowers attract native bees and butterflies during summer blooming. The seeds provide food for birds and small mammals.
Common questions
- When does Desmodium glutinosum bloom?
- It flowers from June through August, producing small purple pea-like blooms on a tall central stalk above a whorl of leaves.
- What pollinators visit Desmodium glutinosum?
- Bees and butterflies are the main visitors, drawn to the small purple flower clusters during the summer bloom period.
- What growing conditions does Desmodium glutinosum prefer?
- This forb does best in part shade with medium moisture, the kind of dappled light and even soil moisture found under an open deciduous forest canopy.
- Does Desmodium glutinosum stay green year round?
- No, it is deciduous. The foliage and stems die back to the ground each fall and new growth emerges from the rootstock in spring.
- How much water does Desmodium glutinosum need once established?
- It tolerates medium to somewhat low soil moisture and handles brief dry spells well once its root system is established in woodland soil.
- Is Large-Flowered Tickclover HOA-friendly?
- Large-Flowered Tickclover takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Large-Flowered Tickclover? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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