Desmanthus illinoensis
Origin: Central and South US via Maine
Improvement status: Cultivated wild material
Seeds per packet: ~70
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Perennial
A tall and delicate looking perennial legume with a very unique ‘bundled’ seed pod. Sometimes found under the common name Prairie Mimosa, Illinois Bundleflower sports feathery double compound foliage and a white pom-pom shaped flower. The species has small seeds, but their nutritional profile is similar to that of soybeans, so they are of interest for commercial development as a perennial substitute for soybeans, and also as a nitrogen-building crop for agroforestry systems.
Plants can grow to 3 feet tall. They prefer full sun and wet to medium-west soil. White blossoms appear June through September, when many native pollinators are attracted to them.
These Maine-grown seeds come to us from our friend and collaborator Aaron Parker of Edgewood Nursery in Falmouth.
GROWING TIPS: Seed benefit from scarification (e.g. scratching with sandpaper or soaking in hot water).
