Showy Tick Trefoil - Native Plant Profile

[@ThistleKing]

Phenomenal videos man. You should do one on Hoary Vervain I think I’ve seen it in the background of some of your videos and it’s one of my favorites.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you - I'll definitely do that one sometime. Last season was the first time I had it bloom, so still getting to know it a bit.

[@sheliaheverin8822]

I remember those seeds when I was a kid.......we got them all over our socks.

[@growitbuildit]

I believe it!

[@georgesehy8058]

Thanks for the video! I wasn't aware of the name of the plant but I remembered the plant from my days in Michigan and walking through the plants on the deer trails. Yes, they were on every part of the clothing, the socks too! I remember them around other wild flowers like asters, etc. I don't know how we knew, but bluejeans seem not to get as many on them as other materials. They were always pretty in a wild sort of way. George from Florida

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you George! Since growing it I began to notice it, and other Tick trefoils much more often. They are everywhere if you just look

[@growitbuildit]

And yes, denim seems to shed the seed well. Cathart material also

[@InvertsandOi]

I help out with invasive species romoval in prairies and Oak barrens sometimes, and I'm usually picking these seeds off of me afterwards. Now I know what they are! I think I'll start keeping them 😊

[@growitbuildit]

Glad I could help you out. Know that there really are a lot of different types of tick trefoil out there. And most have the sticky seeds. So it could be any number of plants

[@pogsslammer2106]

Love your videos! I’m winter sowing because of you.

[@growitbuildit]

That is awesome - thank you for the kind words, and good luck!

[@SleepingCerberusASMR]

Thanks for another great video! It's fun to see some of the lesser know native plants get a spotlight and help me decide if I should try it out.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you ! I know there are people out there reading about so many plants that aren't all that common. It can be hard to get good info beyond growing conditions on some of them.

[@joansmith3492]

good info. thanks. for me, the seed sticking to my dogs is a major negative. might grow it in a side yard where the dogs have not access.

[@growitbuildit]

Exactly! Wouldn't want to pick the seeds off my dog

A good alternative could be lespedeza virginica.

[@tracyguillemette6255]

Perfect timing on this video, just bought some seeds!! This plant is a great alternative to Purple Loosestrife that I see people selling, Yikes! So invasive

[@growitbuildit]

People can still sell loosestrife??? Dang

[@Bashomenonplayz]

This, ipomoea pandurata, lobelia inflata and allegheny blackberries are the natives I have identified in the field that I have yet to move into the yard/garden here in the ridge and valley region of VA. I love how many of our natives overlap as my family originates alternatively between here and PA. I always felt like I belong both to the Susquehanna and the Shenandoah valleys.

[@growitbuildit]

Both of those are beautiful valleys, although I must say it's tough to top VA.

[@PlantRelated]

i am so glad it supports so many species, definitely growing it for them, thank you

[@growitbuildit]

You are very welcome. It definitely has its place in the ecosystem.

[@pkortenk]

Hi Joe, I read your article about building tomato cages and want to say there's a better way. All you need to do is get rebar mesh and cut it into pieces. Then bend those pieces so they're a hollow cylinder. A gardener on our street has made dozens of cages this way and he gave some to us. They also can support any vining plant you can think of.

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you for the tip. I have actually modified my design a bit, and it is holding up well. But when you say rebar mesh, you are talking about actual rebar? Like 1/2" diameter?

[@pkortenk]

@@growitbuildit No, this is more like the thickness of the metal plant cages you buy at a garden center. The mesh he uses is about a milimeter thick. I see construction workers using this kind when pouring concrete for a floor.

[@lamppostfog]

Thanks for another great informative video! Can you do one on rattlesnake master?

[@growitbuildit]

Yes I can - but probably not until later this year. I would like to get more footage.

[@manifoldgrapes124]

Would be helpful to know which growing zone you're in....want to make sure your great suggestions apply to us in zone 7. Thanks in advance!

[@growitbuildit]

Southern PA, border of zone 6/7

[@CannedGaming1]

Awesome

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

Perfect I'm definitely gonna grow it.

[@growitbuildit]

You are welcome - it is an interesting plant

@@growitbuildit They are perfect to add to a prairie strip along with lespedeza virginica.

[@growitbuildit]

I would have thought the desmodium would tower over Lespedeza

[@Compost935]

Do you have a seed source? comparable with anise Hyssop?

[@growitbuildit]

Hi, here is a link (affiliate). amzn.to/48HvuC7

[@redbloodedbutterfly]

Great video! May I ask if you saw birds eating the seeds and if so, which ones? How much of the seed tends to be eaten? I ask because I'd like to grow native plants that will feed seed eating birds.

[@growitbuildit]

I personally never observed any birds eating seeds. But I've seen them missing from the plants. Most of the references though state that it is primarily game birds that eat the seeds, probably after they begin to fall down in winter

[@redbloodedbutterfly]

@@growitbuildit Thanks!

[@mitchellbell713]

Have you ever tried to grow a hemiparasitic plant like Agalinis?

[@growitbuildit]

I've tried growing Indian Paintbrush, but never had much luck

[@rosemaryowens7290]

❤

[@growitbuildit]

Thank you!

Butterfly host plant as well.

[@growitbuildit]

True

[@adiposerex5150]

I grow tick trefoil. The dried seeds stick like glue to any fabric.

[@warp9p659]

We call the seeds "beggar lice" around here.

[@growitbuildit]

100% truth!

[@KG-iy6nc]

I have this in my garden. This past year it was decimated by Japanese beetles 😢.

[@chadrobert116]

Milk spore is your friend.

[@KG-iy6nc]

@@chadrobert116 thanks the tip - new to me, but I’ll give it a shot!

[@growitbuildit]

I've found that most of my Japanese beetles left once my Microprairie got established. But thanks for the tip on molkspore - I'll share that with others