Big Trefoil
Lotus pedunculatus
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kriti, Libya, Madeira, Morocco, Netherlands, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine
Michel Langeveld (www.inaturalist.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Lotus
- Species:
- Lotus pedunculatus
- USDA Symbol:
- LOPE80
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, moisture-retentive loam
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- thrives in wet, marshy areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 14–30 days
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Hard seed coat requires scarification for best germination. Can also be soaked in hot water.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI