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Desmanthus illinoensis

 
Desmanthus illinoensis
Desmanthus illinoensis seedhead
Desmanthus illinoensis

Common name bundleflower; prairie mimosa
Family fabaceae
Life cycle perennial (Z5-9)
Flowers white (summer)
Size 5'
Light sun
Cultural notes ordinary garden soil
From seed soak overnight, then germinate at room temperature. self-seeds in our garden
detailed seed-starting info below
Seed ripensearly October

Striking meadow-green ferny foliage is the primary ornamental attribute of this plant; the summer flowers usually escape my attention, but the reddish-brown seedhead "bundles" are interesting and ornamental in an odd sort of way. It is very late to return in our garden (mid-to-late May in Pennsylvania); even though it grows shrubby and woody, for us it dies back to the ground every year.

Desmanthus illinoensis flower
Desmanthus illinoensis
Greenish buds in mid-July

In our garden, this plant grows in the following areas: front fence border, back fence border, right-fence nursery area

Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list

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Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Seed from JLH. Soaked, sowed at 70F (G started 2d).
  2. Seed from HPS/MAG '13/'14 exchange. Sandpaperd, baggy 70F (9%G, 5-6d). More germination would have occurred with harder scarification.
  3. Same seed as above; scarified with sandpaper/file, baggy 70F (40%G, 6d)
  4. Seed from '15 garden. Pot outside 11/12 (1 SL 6d, 5 SL mid-Feb)
  5. Seed from '15 garden. Scarified with sandpaper, baggy 70F (18%G, 3-6d). Rest probably needed more scarification

Seedlings are tender - protect until after danger of frost


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