Common bird's-foot trefoil.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Fácil

Tipo de planta

Perennial herb

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 7 a 14 días

Tamaño adulto

15 to 30 centimeters

Ritmo de crecimiento

Medio

Rusticidad

USDA 4 a 9

Floración

Late spring to early autumn

Cuidados

Plant this in a spot that gets plenty of sun and has well-draining soil. Keep an eye out for aphids during the warmer months. It is quite drought tolerant once established, so you do not need to fuss over it too much.

Riego

Water deeply only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Abonado

This plant rarely needs fertilizer as it fixes its own nitrogen.

Poda

Trim back after flowering to encourage a tidy shape and potential second bloom.

Trasplante

Repot only if the plant becomes root bound in its container.

Suelo

Well-draining, sandy or loamy soil

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatura

-25 a 35°C

Humedad

30 a 70%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Alta

Longevidad

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.

Fragancia

Suave

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

The plant is considered mildly toxic if ingested due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides.

Niños

Keep children away from the plant as the foliage and seeds are not intended for consumption.

Alérgenos por contacto

Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Alérgenos en el aire

The pollen can cause mild allergic reactions in some people during the peak flowering season.

Comestibilidad

While not highly toxic, it contains cyanogenic glycosides and should not be consumed by humans.

Cómo identificarla

• Bright yellow pea-like flowers
• Five leaflets per leaf
• Spreading low growth habit
• Seed pods resemble bird feet

Altura

0,05 a 0,4m

Anchura

0,3 a 0,6m

Hojas

green, deciduous

Flores

yellow, orange, 1 a 2cm

Frutos

brown, Late summer

Problemas frecuentes

• Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that appears as white dusty patches on the leaves.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed, division

Cuándo plantar

spring, autumn

Cuidados en invierno

Cut back dead foliage in late autumn to tidy the plant. It is fully hardy and requires no special protection during winter.

En maceta

It grows well in containers, but ensure the pot has excellent drainage and is at least 20 centimeters deep.

Plant this as a living mulch around larger perennials to suppress weeds and boost nitrogen levels.

Buenas compañeras

• Yarrow — They share similar soil and light requirements.
• Ox-eye Daisy — They create a classic meadow aesthetic together.

Especies parecidas

• Lotus pedunculatus — It is a larger relative that prefers wetter soil conditions.

Ciencia

Familia

Fabaceae

Género

Lotus

Orden

Fabales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

Conservación

It is a common and widespread species not currently of conservation concern.

It survives in the wild by forming symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its root nodules.

Valor para la fauna

larval host plant, nectar source

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas, polillas

Usos

ground cover, meadow planting, soil improvement, pollinator garden

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Is this plant invasive?

It can be aggressive in some regions, so check your local regulations before planting.

Does it need fertilizer?

No, it fixes its own nitrogen and prefers lean soil.

De dónde viene el nombre

The genus name Lotus comes from the Greek word for a type of clover, while corniculatus refers to the horn-like shape of the seed pods.

Bueno saberlo

• It is commonly known as bird's foot trefoil because the seed pods resemble a bird's foot.
• The flowers often turn orange as they age.
• It is a hardy plant that thrives in poor, rocky soils.

También en

• Plantas resistentes a la sequía