Naked-Flowered Tick-Trefoil (Hylodesmum nudiflorum) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,181 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Nationally it blooms mainly from July to August, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Naked-Flowered Tick-Trefoil: observations by month (U.S.)
About Naked-Flowered Tick-Trefoil
Hylodesmum nudiflorum (syn. Desmodium nudiflorum), the naked-flowered tick trefoil, panicled leaf tick trefoil or stemless tick trefoil, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to eastern North America. A perennial, it is typically found in mature, open woodlands in a variety of soils, preferring those with substantial organic content.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Naked-Flowered Tick-Trefoil by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 237 | August | Jul–Aug |
| North Carolina | 123 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Virginia | 109 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Tennessee | 79 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 73 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 69 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 66 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Arkansas | 54 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Ohio | 49 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Mississippi | 44 | June | Jun–Aug |
| New York | 42 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Kentucky | 31 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 27 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 25 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Alabama | 21 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 20 | July | Jun–Aug |
| South Carolina | 18 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 16 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Michigan | 15 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 13 | August | Aug–Aug |
| New Jersey | 11 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Maine | 9 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Vermont | 9 | August | Aug–Aug |
| West Virginia | 7 | July | Jul–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Naked-Flowered Tick-Trefoil?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from July to August.
Where is Naked-Flowered Tick-Trefoil most often seen?
The most observations come from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia.