Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)

Birdsfoot trefoil, Tom Thumb, or Eggs and Bacon to give it two of its alternative names, is a very valuable plant in a wildflower meadow. It is small by comparison to some of the flowers in this mixture, but important none the less. Its bright orange-yellow blossoms appear in June and may continue sporadically into September. Birdsfoot trefoil has almost more local folk names than any other plant, indicating not just how widespread a species it is, but also that has been noticed and appreciated. It is pollinated specifically by bumblebees which love it, but smaller butterflies especially the common blue and its less common relative the brown argus, also visit it for nectar.
As well as encouraging and providing nectar and pollen for the common blue butterfly, Birdsfoot trefoil is also caterpillar food plant of this butterfly. The common blue can easily build up a breeding population in a meadow where Birdsfoot trefoil thrives.

We supply Birdsfoot trefoil in our selected wildflower trays or seed mixes but we also sell it on its own here as seed, 55cc plug plants, or in more generous half litre pots.

Supplier : British Wildflower Plants / Herbiseed
Our Birdsfoot trefoil plants and seeds have guaranteed UK provenance and are supplied by signatories to the Flora Locale code of practice.

We donate half of our profit on sales of Birdsfoot trefoil to Buglife

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