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Sessile Tick-Clover

Desmodium sessilifolium

Last reviewed: September 2026

Sessile Tick-Clover (Desmodium sessilifolium)
Photo: (c) Thomas Koffel, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Toxicity unknown

Sessile Tick-Clover (Desmodium sessilifolium) 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 sun

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

Jul, Aug, Sep

Native to

AL, AR, FL, IA and 14 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Before you buy

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Central Great PlainsGreat PlainsCross TimbersTexas Blackland PrairiesEast Central Texas PlainsWestern Gulf Coastal PlainSouth Central PlainsEastern Temperate ForestsOzark HighlandsCentral Irregular PlainsCentral Corn Belt PlainsEastern Corn Belt PlainsSouthern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift PlainsHuron/Erie Lake PlainsSoutheastern PlainsInterior River Valleys and HillsMississippi Alluvial PlainMississippi Valley Loess Plains

Sessile-leaf tick trefoil produces clusters of small pink to purple pea-like flowers from summer through early fall. This upright perennial forms neat clumps with compound leaves and develops seed pods that stick to clothing and fur. It thrives in partial sun with average moisture and provides long-lasting color in naturalized areas.

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In an HOA neighborhood

Sessile Tick-Clover 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.

  • Seed pods stick to clothing and pets
  • Can spread and look weedy
  • Dies back completely in winter leaving bare spots

Wildlife value

The flowers attract native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators throughout the long blooming season. Seeds provide food for birds and small mammals.

Common questions

How much sun does Sessile Tick-Clover need?
Sessile Tick-Clover grows best in part sun conditions.
When does Sessile Tick-Clover bloom?
Sessile Tick-Clover blooms in July, August, and September.
Where is Sessile Tick-Clover native?
Sessile Tick-Clover (Desmodium sessilifolium) is native to AL, AR, FL, IA and 14 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What pollinators does Sessile Tick-Clover attract?
Sessile Tick-Clover draws bees and butterflies.
Is Sessile Tick-Clover HOA-friendly?
Sessile Tick-Clover takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

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