Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

How much light does a Bird's-foot Trefoil need?

Bird's-foot trefoil prefers full sun, and full sun is the only outdoor light level on record for it. It thrives in direct light and in nutrient-poor soils of varying moisture levels. Choose an open, sunny site for it outdoors. Its flowers are yellow and may become orange or red, and they open from late spring to late summer.

• Light: Full sun¹

How often to water a Bird's-foot Trefoil

Bird's-foot trefoil is highly tolerant of waterlogged soil. The water range on record for this plant runs from medium to wet. Poorly drained soil and occasionally wet soil are both listed for it. Check how damp the soil is rather than following a fixed routine, because a site that stays wet sits inside its recorded range. Tolerating waterlogged soil is not the same as needing it, and medium moisture is also within the range.

• Water: Medium to wet²

Best soil for a Bird's-foot Trefoil

The soil drainage on record for this plant is poorly drained and occasionally wet. It is highly tolerant of waterlogged soil. It also thrives in nutrient-poor soils of varying moisture levels. The soil pH on record runs from 5.5 to 6.0. Lime is the amendment named for bringing soil to a pH of 5.5–6.0. In the record, poorly drained soil, occasionally wet soil and a pH of 5.5–6.0 describe the site it suits.

• Soil drainage: Poorly drained and occasionally wet²
• Soil pH: pH 5.5–6³

Hardiness and temperature

Bird's-foot trefoil is rated for USDA hardiness zones 4a to 8b. The zone figures come with 25–40 inches (64–102 cm) of precipitation or irrigation per year. No humidity figure or minimum temperature is recorded alongside the zones. Hardiness is the main temperature fact available for this plant.

• Hardiness: Zones 4a–8b²

How to plant a Bird's-foot Trefoil

Bird's-foot trefoil suits USDA hardiness zones 4a to 8b. Plants typically grow between 4 inches and 1 foot (0.1–0.3 m) high in garden and landscape settings. It can be slow to establish and does not compete well with existing vegetation. Poorly drained and occasionally wet sites are both within its recorded soil range. In the contiguous United States it is an introduced plant. Its recorded native range includes Finland, Germany, Spain and Turkey.

• Hardiness: Zones 4a–8b²

Winter care

The coldest zone on record for bird's-foot trefoil is 4a. The warmest is 8b. Gardeners in zone 3 or colder are outside the recorded range. Gardeners in zone 9 or warmer are also outside it. Only the zone range is recorded, with no minimum temperature or protective steps.

• Hardiness: Zones 4a–8b²

How to propagate a Bird's-foot Trefoil

Seed is the propagation method on record for bird's-foot trefoil. The seeds are very small, with an average of 375,000 seeds per pound (about 827,000 per kg). Seedlings are slow-growing. The plant can be slow to establish and does not compete well with existing vegetation. Seed is the only method recorded for it.

• Propagation: Seed²

Common problems

Meloidogyne chitwoodi and Heterodera glycines are the pests on record for this plant. The diseases on record are Clavibacter insidiosus, Nepovirus nicotianae and Fusarium. Bird's-foot trefoil is not as resistant as alfalfa to Fusarium-type diseases. Two pests and three diseases are on record in total.

• Common pests: meloidogyne chitwoodi and heterodera glycines⁴
• Common diseases: clavibacter insidiosus, nepovirus nicotianae and fusarium^4,5

Questions and answers

Does bird's-foot trefoil need full sun?

Full sun is the outdoor light level on record for it. It thrives in direct light and in nutrient-poor soils of varying moisture levels. No other light level is listed for the plant.

Can bird's-foot trefoil grow in wet soil?

It is highly tolerant of waterlogged soil. Poorly drained and occasionally wet soils are both listed for it, and its water range runs from medium to wet.

How tall does bird's-foot trefoil grow?

It typically grows between 4 inches and 1 foot (0.1–0.3 m) high in garden and landscape settings. Growth is slow, and the seedlings are slow-growing.