Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
Blooming in the summer, the flowers of 'Bird's-Foot Trefoil' are bright yellow, occasionally with red tinges. A low growing plant, the grow from twelve to twenty-four inches tall, and prefer sunny, dry locations.
Its Latin name "
corniculatus" means "little crow" and refers to the leaf shape. It was originally introduced into the United States from Europe and has readily naturalized here. 'Bird's-Foot Trefoil' is often used in meadows as a forage crop for quail, dove, ducks, rabbits and deer who eat the foliage and seed. It can be used in pastures for cattle as well.
As a perennial legume, stands of the plant can survive as long as thirty years under the right conditions! USDA zones 5-8. Each packet contains 0.5 gram, which is approximately 200 seeds.
