trefle.io · Taken Nov 12, 2020 by Shannon the cannon (cc-by-sa)
Fabaceae
Beggar-lice
Desmodium intortum
Also known as Desmodium sonorae, Beggar's lice, Desmodium adhaesivum, Meibomia sonorae
Tropical Plants · Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Tropical Perennial · Legume · Nitrogen Fixer · Desmodium · Pollinator Plant · Sprawling Habit · Sticky Seeds · Fabaceae · Tropical Wildflower · Warm Climate
Beggar-lice is a sprawling tropical perennial legume that grows vigorously in warm climates with partial shade and moderate moisture. Its small pink to purple flowers attract pollinators, and as a legume it naturally enriches the soil with nitrogen. Note that its seed pods have sticky barbs that cling to clothing and fur, so plant away from high-traffic areas.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water thoroughly until moist, allow surface to dry slightly before rewatering · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 4.5–7.1
- Temperature
- 50°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 10a-12b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 10 ft – 30 ft
- Spread
- 15 ft
- Spacing
- 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Mixed
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Angola, Arizona, Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, GaláPagos, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Leeward Is., Malawi
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Birds
Sources: trefle
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