Pinnate Bird's-foot Plant Care
Ornithopus pinnatus (Mill.) Druce
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Ornithopus pinnatus, the orange birdsfoot, is a plant in the Fabaceae family. It was first described as Scorpiurus pinnata in 1768 by Philip Miller in The Gardeners Dictionary.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Pinnate Bird's-foot?
Water Pinnate Bird's-foot every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Pinnate Bird's-foot?
Pinnate Bird's-foot (Ornithopus pinnatus) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Ornithopus genus.
Pinnate Bird's-foot displays a low-growing spreading perennial growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Pinnate Bird's-foot produces small white or pink pea-like flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Pinnate Bird's-foot?
Ornithopus pinnatus requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Pinnate Bird's-foot Need?
Pinnate Bird's-foot thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Pinnate Bird's-foot Prefer?
Ornithopus pinnatus grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Pinnate Bird's-foot prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Pinnate Bird's-foot?
Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Pinnate Bird's-foot to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Pinnate Bird's-foot?
Feed Pinnate Bird's-foot every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Pinnate Bird's-foot?
Repot every 2-3 years 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 Pinnate Bird's-foot?
Pinnate Bird's-foot can be propagated through seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to common bird's-foot plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Pinnate Bird's-foot Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Pinnate Bird's-foot, 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 Pinnate Bird's-foot?
Pinnate Bird's-foot is susceptible to aphids, leafhoppers, whiteflies. 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 Pinnate Bird's-foot Need?
Pinnate Bird's-foot grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Pinnate Bird's-foot as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Pinnate Bird's-foot 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 Ornithopus genus — compare its care with other Ornithopus species on PlantoScan.
Ornithopus is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Pinnate Bird's-foot thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Ornithopus pinnatus (Mill.) Druce, family Fabaceae (first published in J. Bot. 45: 420 (1907)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Pinnate Bird's-foot, 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.
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