Design By Nature - wildflowers.ie
Species Datapage No 2a
You may click on most photographs to enlarge. *Denotes a Naturalised species
Creeping perennial, excellent on dry banks, in
quarries, by the sea and in gardens as well as a great butterfly plant
and a hardy species that flowers for a long time. It even grows on
walls!
Trefoil comes in a great variety of growth habits. Its ability to survive on a range of sites depends on management.
Birdsfoot Trefoil grows well in quarries, where Rabbit and Hare browse it down so that most of the plant grows under the ground in a spreading root system.
On gravely and sandy beeches it flowers early and profusely, watch out for sub species with far smaller leaves.
Trefoil fixes nitrogen on infertile sites.
An Ideal species for road verges
In meadows Trefoil grows tall and flowers sparse until the sward is cut and its reverts to forming clumps, these clumps try to flower early in spring. If you cut your meadow in spring don't worry about cutting the trefoil if its in full flower. If its in seed, your too late to cut the meadow anyway, so leave it until summer.
Life Cycle (Form): Perennial
Flower Height: 10 - 80 cm depending on plant community and management
Foliage Height: 10 - 30
Flower Colour: Yellow with red tips
Flowering period: June to August
Time to Flower: 12 months
Soil Type: All, best on dry or moist soils
Ph Type: Neutral to Alkaline
Moisture: Any, except flooded
Aspect: Any except deep shade
Wildlife Value: Good to excellent, attracts Butterfly and bee
Note: An excellent pioneer, vital in most meadows
E.U. law: Being an agricultural species, It is illegal to sell native wild uncertified Birdsfoot Trefoil seeds. DBN however sells this species in both forms as a wild native and as an agricultural registered variety. If your project has strict nature conservation demands ask for the native only. (we can supply but have limited stocks)