Beggarlice (Desmodium spp.)
Beggarlice, Genus Desmodium, are herbaceous perennials that may grow 2 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are alternate and trifoliate with hooked hairs on the underside. Flowers vary in color from white to violet. The herb produces a triangular seed that sticks like a tick.
WildlifeHost plant for Silver-Spotted Skipper, Hoary Edge, Northern Cloudywing, Southern Cloudywing, Gray Hairstreak, and Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies. Seeds serve as food source for songbirds, quail, and small mammals in the winter. Flowers are attractive to some pollinators.
| Plant Type |
Herb/Wildflower |
| Leaf Type |
Deciduous |
| Deer Resistance |
Moderate |
| Regions |
Mountain, Piedmont, Coastal Plain |
| Light |
Full Sun, Partial Sun/Shade |
| Soil |
Moist, Dry |
| Bloom Times |
Late Summer |
| Seed Times |
Fall |
| Wildlife Value |
Seed or Nut, Butterfly Larvae Host |
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