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Greater bird's-foot-trefoil · Lotus pedunculatus

Why is my Lotus pedunculatus not blooming?

It is less common for this plant to fail to bloom, which usually happens when it does not receive enough direct sunlight to fuel its energy needs. This plant typically flowers in summer when grown in full sun.

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Check these first

  1. Measure the amount of direct sun the plant gets each day.
  2. Check the fertilizer label to see if it is too high in nitrogen.
  3. Ensure the plant is mature enough to flower.

Likely causes

  1. Insufficient Light

    Possible

    How to tell: The plant looks leggy and stretched out, with long spaces between the leaves and no flower buds forming.

    What to do: Move your plant to a spot where it receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. If growing indoors, place it in your sunniest south facing window.

  2. Excessive Nitrogen

    Possible

    How to tell: The plant is growing very large and lush with dark green leaves but shows no interest in producing flowers.

    What to do: Switch to a fertilizer lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus to encourage blooming. Stop fertilizing for 4 weeks to see if the plant shifts its energy to flowers.

Other plants that won't flower

Find out what's wrong with your greater bird's-foot-trefoil

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

It is normal for young plants to skip flowering during their first season. Worry only if the plant is mature and has had perfect light for an entire summer without producing a single bloom.

Stopping it coming back

Keep your plant in a bright, sunny location and use a balanced fertilizer sparingly during the growing season.

Greater bird's-foot-trefoil: not flowering? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your greater bird's-foot-trefoil and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Does this plant need a specific temperature to bloom?
It prefers warm summer temperatures to trigger flowering. Keep it away from cold drafts or air conditioning vents.
Will deadheading help it bloom more?
Yes, removing spent flowers encourages the plant to put energy into creating new buds rather than seeds.

More problems with Greater bird's-foot-trefoil

Back to the Greater bird's-foot-trefoil guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.