Join us for our next Pasture Walk January 23, 2025!

Illinois Bundleflower

Desmanthus illinoensis

Uniquely shaped seed pods of this legume are great wildlife food

 

$3.00$9.00

For quantity discount pricing, request a quote.

Description

Desmanthus illinoensis, commonly known as Illinois Bundleflower, is a native perennial legume. It grows 2-4 feet tall and has small, white flowerheads.

Wildlife notes

Small bees and flies occasionally visit the flowerheads seeking nectar and pollen. Ring-Necked Pheasant, Bobwhite Quail, and Greater Prairie Chicken consume the seeds.

Forage notes

Cattle enjoy the relatively high protein content of its foliage.

Landscaping notes

Illinois Bundleflower prefers full to partial sun and moist to mesic conditions. Some drought is tolerated, but the leaflets on the lower stems of the plant may fall off. Growth is best in fertile loam. This plant fixes nitrogen in the soil.  Easily grown from seed.

Restoration notes

Habitats include black soil prairies, moist meadows near rivers, openings in woodlands, limestone glades, areas along railroads, and areas along levees. It can be used in prairie restorations to improve worn-out soil but does not recover well from wildfires. Illinois Bundleflower prefers relatively open areas with a history of disturbance.

This species is often used in the following mixes: Wildlife Chuckwagon Mix, Butterfly and Hummingbird Mix

Videos About This Plant

To learn more about this plant, check out our videos about it and its uses.

Wildlife Chuckwagon Mix

Additional information

Weight N/A
Unit

Packet, Ounce, Pound

Light

Full Sun

Seeding Rate

6 bulk lbs/acre

Soils

Average, Moist

Height

24"-36"

Bloom Month

Jul

Color

White

Specialty Uses

Wildlife, Medicinal

# seeds/pkt

200

Packet coverage area

5 sq ft.

Life Cycle

Perennial

What is PLS?

Pure Live Seed (PLS) is the portion of good viable seed per pound. It is a measure of the seed that is alive and able to sprout into plants. This product is sold by PLS ounce/pound. To provide one ounce/pound of viable seed, you will receive more than one ounce/pound of product. Read more about PLS here.