Plant Details

Lotus uliginosus

Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, harvest period and uses of Lotus uliginosus.

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Common names

3 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Moerasrolklaver
French
  • Lotier corniculé
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Lotus uliginosus
Taxonomic placement (Kew): Lotus pedunculatus subsp. pedunculatus View name reference ↗

The original source identifies Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr, which Kew places here. The Hoffmann usage belongs to Lotus corniculatus and is excluded.

Sources [2] [3] [4]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Lotus (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Greater Bird's Foot Trefoil

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.40 m
Spread: 0.40 m
Growth rate: Fast
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5-9
Soil moisture:
Wet, Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
-
Edibility rating:
(0)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Insecticide, Nitrogen fixer, Bee forage

Description

An insecticide is obtained from the plant, although no further details are provided. This species is used as a pioneer plant in the reforestation of peat and pumice soils and in other wet, acidic soils that are unsuitable for the more commonly used Trifolium species. It fixes nitrogen.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/06
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 54562; name ID 2344629; Lotus L.. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Lotus pedunculatus subsp. pedunculatus
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Name heading and taxonomic status; The original source identifies Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr, which Kew places here. The Hoffmann usage belongs to Lotus corniculatus and is excluded.

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Taxonomic synonyms or horticultural name section. The original source identifies Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr, which Kew places here. The Hoffmann usage belongs to Lotus corniculatus and is excluded.

    Source checked on .

  4. Plants For A Future Lotus uliginosus - Schkuhr.
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Catalogue source profile: authorship and name context only. The original source identifies Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr, which Kew places here. The Hoffmann usage belongs to Lotus corniculatus and is excluded.

    Source checked on .