Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil Plant Care
Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus (Hook. & Arn.) Govaerts
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–85°F
30–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Plant Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil in full sun to partial shade (USDA zones 12a) and water a young shrub every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F (10–29°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil (Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Acmispon genus.
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil displays a low spreading shrub growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil produces small yellow flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Water a young or newly planted Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Until established; then in dry spells
What Light Does the Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil Need?
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil Prefer?
Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil prefers humidity levels of 30–60%.
Temperature
50–85°F
Humidity
30–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Well-draining sandy soil with good organic content. Good drainage is essential for Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Feed Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.
Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
Where Should You Plant a Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with good organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil is suited to USDA Zone 12a.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Far Apart Should You Plant a Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.
Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.
How Do You Prune a Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Prune Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.
How Do You Care for a Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil in Winter?
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.
How Do You Propagate a Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil can be propagated through seeds, division. Similar propagation techniques also apply to american bird's-foot trefoil plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil?
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil Need?
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Acmispon genus — compare its care with other Acmispon species on PlantoScan.
Acmispon is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Acmispon Species
Other Acmispon species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Acmispon tomentosus var. glabriusculus (Hook. & Arn.) Govaerts, family Fabaceae (first published in Skvortsovia 4(3): 76. 2018 [29 Nov 2018] [epublished]) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Nearly-smooth Woolly Bird's-foot Trefoil, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
