Showy Tick Trefoil is a tall native legume of prairie edges and open woods producing dense, showy spikes of pink-purple flowers in summer. Its sticky seed pods cling to clothing and fur, dispersing seeds effectively. It fixes nitrogen and is a larval host plant for several hairstreak and skipper butterfly species.
Best time to see a Showy Tick Trefoil
The best time to see a Showy Tick Trefoil is July–August, when about 83% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 7,040 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Showy Tick Trefoil? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Showy Tick Trefoil sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Showy Tick Trefoil? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a Showy Tick Trefoil is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love plants? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.