New Mexico Bird's-Foot Trefoil

Acmispon plebeius

Native to:
Mexico, United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Acmispon
Species:
Acmispon plebeius
USDA Symbol:
LOPL2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
40 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun,jul
Bloom Colors:
yellow
Ground Cover:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, birds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from crown after fire and benefits from fire-cleared ground for seedling establishment. Common in post-fire plant communities.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
Commonly found in open, sunny habitats

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Scarification improves germination rates. Seeds benefit from hot water treatment or mechanical scarification to break hard seed coat.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI