Desmodium paniculatum aka Narrow Leaf Tick Trefoil

Desmodium paniculatum is an herb that lives for more than one year. It belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. Its common names include panicled tick trefoil and narrow-leaf tick-trefoil. Kew places its native range in the central and eastern United States. It grows in temperate climates. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Plants For A Future also lists records from southern Ontario. Its listed United States range runs from New England south to Florida. It reaches west into parts of the Great Plains and Texas.

The plant grows fast to about 3.3 feet [1 metre] tall. Its listed spread is about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres]. Plants For A Future says its leaves are evergreen. The supplied evidence for this species gives no more leaf or stem details. It gives no details of flowers, fruit, or bloom season. The RHS page describes these traits for the genus only. Those details do not show how this species looks or when it blooms.

It grows in oak woods, savannas, and at woodland edges. Other sites include clearings, ravines, prairies, and shores. It also grows on sandy slopes and banks. These sites range from moist ground to fairly dry soil. In gardens, it prefers part sun and soil that drains well. It can also grow with no shade. Sand, loam, and clay all suit it. It copes with poor soil, from acidic to neutral. Its stated range also includes very acidic soil. Its water use is low to moderate. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 4–10.

This legume fixes nitrogen and has a place in woodland planting. In agroforestry, it can grow beneath trees and serve as fodder. It can feed stock in pastures or plots grown for fodder. Plants For A Future says it draws bees and birds. These traits give it value for wildlife and soil fertility. Seeds offer a quick way to grow new plants. The source says seeds sprout within three to four days. They need no scarification, or treatment to break the seed coat.

The source also flags its chance of becoming a weed. It does not rate how severe this may be. The supplied evidence gives no pest or disease details for this species. Plants For A Future records no uses for food or medicine. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety.