Photo: Chase G. MayersCC0 1.0Image: PlantoScan
Birds-foot Trefoil Plant Care
Lotus corniculatus L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Lotus corniculatus is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae. Common names include common bird's-foot trefoil, eggs and bacon, birdsfoot deervetch, and just bird's-foot trefoil.
Full sun
At a glance
How do you care for Birds-foot Trefoil?
Birds-foot Trefoil grows best in full sun.
What Is the Birds-foot Trefoil?
Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Lotus genus. Birds-foot Trefoil is also known as Common Birds-foot Trefoil, Eggs and Bacon, Butter and Eggs.
Birds-foot Trefoil displays an aquatic perennial herb growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Birds-foot Trefoil produces showy pink or white flowers.
What Light Does the Birds-foot Trefoil Need?
Birds-foot Trefoil thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Birds-foot Trefoil?
Loamy soil with good drainage. Good drainage is essential for Birds-foot Trefoil to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Birds-foot Trefoil?
Repot annually in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Birds-foot Trefoil?
Birds-foot Trefoil can be propagated through seeds, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to arabian lotus plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Birds-foot Trefoil Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Birds-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 Birds-foot Trefoil?
Birds-foot Trefoil is susceptible to aphids, leafhoppers, caterpillars. 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.
Keep exploring plants
Birds-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 Lotus genus — compare its care with other Lotus species on PlantoScan.
Lotus is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Birds-foot Trefoil thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Lotus Species
Other Lotus species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Lotus corniculatus L., family Fabaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 775 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Birds-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.
- Photo: Chase G. Mayers, CC0 1.0, PlantoScan.
- 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.
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