Desmodium nicaraguense

Desmodium nicaraguense

Native to:
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Desmodium
Species:
Desmodium nicaraguense
USDA Symbol:
DENI2

Growth Characteristics

Height:
100 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun,Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
jul,aug,sep,oct
Bloom Colors:
pink, purple

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, birds
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from rootstock following fire; typical of legumes in fire-prone grassland and savanna habitats.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to dry, open areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Scarification of hard seed coat recommended before stratification. Seeds may benefit from inoculation with appropriate Rhizobium.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI