Desmanthus illinoensis Seeds | Illinois Bundleflower
LATIN NAME: Desmanthus illinoensis
COMMON NAME: Illinois Bundleflower
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Illinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) is a tall-grass. Illinois bundleflower is a fine, generous, nitrogen-fixing plant of prairies, and its round heads of small, white, brush-like flowers and twisted, brown, seed clusters have made it a familiar of tall-grass prairie for a very long time. Plant is a fine, easy addition to prairie planting and pollinator garden, and it builds soil as it grows. It is a plant of sunny, well-drained ground. For the small amount of care it requires, the return is remarkable.
Science & Biotechnology
Research touching on Desmanthus illinoensis ranges from the botany of the Desmanthus group to practical horticulture, including seed handling, propagation and the selection of superior forms. Illinois bundleflower has a steady and growing place in plant science, and it has been studied for its nitrogen-fixing roots and its place in prairie ecosystem. Nothing exotic is required: standard seed-sowing practice, done carefully, is enough.
Uses & Benefits
Illinois Bundleflower brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Illinois bundleflower is grown for fine, mimosa-like leaves and round, brush-like flower heads. White flowers pull in bees and butterflies through summer, and dense, twisted seed clusters are a fine food for birds and small mammals of the prairie. As a nitrogen-fixing legume plant builds soil, and it is a fine, easy addition to prairie planting, wildflower patch and pollinator garden. Once it has settled, the workload drops to almost nothing.
Bundleflowers are protein-rich forage legumes of the Americas, researched for drought-hardy pasture systems.
Growing from Seed
Raising Illinois Bundleflower from seed is straightforward. Broadcast the seed thinly over a fine, free-draining compost, sieve a little more compost on top, and water with a fine rose. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
The medicinal tradition behind this species, outlined above, is a large part of its interest. Once established, Illinois Bundleflower largely looks after itself. Moisture matters most while plants are young; established plants cope with far more.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Illinois Bundleflower often pair it with these related subjects: