Hawai'I Ticktrefoil
Desmodium uncinatum
- Native to:
- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Galápagos, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
Macleay Grass Man (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Desmodium
- Species:
- Desmodium uncinatum
- USDA Symbol:
- DESA81
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 150 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from crown and root system after fire; commonly found in fire-maintained tropical and subtropical grasslands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in tropical and subtropical regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification of hard seed coat improves germination. Seeds can be soaked in hot water or mechanically scarified.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI