Nakedflower Ticktrefoil is a native wildflower in the pea family that prefers open woodlands in mature hardwood forests in moist, sandy, gravelly or loamy soil with high organic content. It is a nitrogen-fixing species through symbiosis with soil-borne bacteria. The delicate pinkish blooms are sweetly fragrant and occur mid to late summer and are visited by bees. They appear on a naked stem in clusters and are reminiscent of pea-like blooms. Use in a woodland or native garden.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaf stalk arises separately from the flower stalk. The leaves are compound and arranged in threes in a tight cluster. Individual leaflets are 2-3½" long and 1½-2½" across. The terminal leaf is larger than the lateral leaves.
Flower color
Pink; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Fragrant
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Funnel; Lipped
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
0.3 in. rose-purple flowers are borne on leafless stems in 1 or more clusters. The bloom has a rounded upper petal and 3 narrower lower petals that are longer than the upper. Blooms mid to late summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The fruit is a flat pod called a loment and is divided into 1-4 segments. It is covered in hooked short hairs to attach to objects like your clothes and animal fur.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The stem is light green to reddish-green with short hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
South Eastern Canada to Central & Eastern U.S.A
Distribution
AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Wildlife value
Attracts bees. Host plant to Eastern Tailed-Blue butterflies