Shoot Logo
Take a photoPlans & pricingBook a demoGet started

Lotus corniculatus (Bird's-foot trefoil)

Other names: Birdfoot deervetch, Bird's foot clover, Bloomfel, Butter-jags, Cheesecake grass, Cross toes, Crow's foot, Crowtoes, Fingers and thumbs, Fingers and toes, Ground honeysuckle, Lamb's cress, Lamb's toes, Sheep foot, Shoes and stockings, Bird's eyes, Cat in clover, Eggs and bacon, Lady's fingers, Lady's slipper

ShootChecker™

STOP: Make sure you get the “Right Plant, Right Place.”

90% of plants die because they were the wrong plant choice. Shoot helps you to save valuable time and money to get the right plant choices for any garden.

How ShootChecker™ works

Get the Right Plant, Right Place

1

Provide details about your garden or your client's garden conditions

2

ShootChecker™ will help you assess if it is the right plant

3

Save money with Right Plant, Right Place.

Get started Book a demo

Other Shoot features

Laptop, tablet and mobile devices

One-stop planning
Streamlined garden design and record-keeping all in one place

Monthly care advice
Receive tailored monthly care advice for plants in your garden

Present and collaborate
Share designs and care tasks with anyone

Join Shoot today to enjoy…

  • ShootChecker™
  • One-stop garden design
  • Monthly care advice for every plant in your garden
  • Saving money with Right Plant, Right Place

All you need to do is join.

Get started
Book a demo

Already a member? Sign in

Add to plant list
Species
L. corniculatus is a compact, spreading, deciduous perennial with pinnate, mid- to blue-green leaves divided into five obovate to rounded leaflets, the upper three separated from the lower ones. Umbel-like racemes of pea-like, yellow flowers open from red buds from late spring into summer. Flowers are followed by slender seedpods.
Add to plant list
ShootChecker™
Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
0.3 m 0.5 m 2-5 years
0 ft 1 ft 2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • East
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered
  • Exposed

Check to see if this is the Right Plant, Right Place with ShootChecker™

Open ShootChecker™

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Plant in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Can withstand trampling and close mowing. Does not tolerates high levels of nitrogen.

Suggested uses

Ground Cover, Beds and borders, Mediterranean, Cottage/Informal, Drought Tolerant, Hedging/Screens, Foliage only, Bees (attract & feed bees), Wildflower, Meadow

UK hardiness

H7

USDA zones

Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9

Sunset zone

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Low
Central Valley = Moderate/Medium
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Moderate/Medium
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Inappropriate

Foliage

Semi-evergreen

Habit

Compact, Spreading

Native to

Europe, Great Britain, Western Asia, Central Asia, Northern Africa

Drought tolerant

Yes

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Toxic if consumer in large quantities.

Plant care

Pruning

Typically needs little pruning. Can be cut to the ground in spring to encourage compact, bushy growth.

Propagation methods

Seed, Softwood cuttings

Pests

Diseases

Sow seeds in a cold frame in spring

Sow seeds in a cold frame in autumn

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Plant container grown plants in moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (10)

Lotus

Select all Deselect all
0 selected Add to a plant list
0 selected
Lotus corniculatus
View
Select
Lotus corniculatus Bird's-foot trefoil
Lotus tetragonolobus
View
Select
Lotus tetragonolobus Asparagus pea
Lotus hirsutus 'Little Boy Blue'
View
Select
Lotus hirsutus 'Little Boy Blue' Hairy canary clover 'Little Boy Blue'
Lotus maculatus
View
Select
Lotus maculatus Pico de Paloma
Lotus tetragonolobus 'Eden Project range'
View
Select
Lotus tetragonolobus 'Eden Project range' Asparagus pea 'Eden Project range'
Lotus hirsutus
View
Select
Lotus hirsutus Hairy canary clover
Lotus berthelotii
View
Select
Lotus berthelotii Coral gem
Lotus hirsutus 'Lois'
View
Select
Lotus hirsutus 'Lois' Hairy canary clover 'Lois'
Lotus pedunculatus
View
Select
Lotus pedunculatus Greater bird's foot trefoil
Lotus hirsutus 'Fréjorgues'
View
Select
Lotus hirsutus 'Fréjorgues' Hairy canary clover 'Fréjorgues'
Select all Deselect all Add to a plant list

Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss Lotus corniculatus with other Shoot members
Read more
TOP