Showy Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 934 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 Showy Tick-Trefoil: observations by month (U.S.)
About Showy Tick-Trefoil
Desmodium canadense is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to eastern North America. Its common names include showy tick-trefoil, Canadian tick-trefoil, and Canada tickclover.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Showy Tick-Trefoil by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 270 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Wisconsin | 100 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Vermont | 92 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Ohio | 77 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New York | 76 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Massachusetts | 66 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Maine | 44 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Illinois | 42 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Iowa | 34 | July | Jul–Aug |
| New Jersey | 34 | August | Jul–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 25 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Pennsylvania | 24 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Connecticut | 12 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Michigan | 11 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Indiana | 6 | August | 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 Showy Tick-Trefoil?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from July to August.
Where is Showy Tick-Trefoil most often seen?
The most observations come from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Vermont.