Photo: Mason Brock ( Masebrock )Public domainvia Wikimedia Commons
Pencil Flower Plant Care
Stylosanthes biflora (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Stylosanthes biflora, known by the common name sidebeak pencilflower, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family. It is native to the Southeastern United States where it is widespread in open areas of native vegetation. It producers yellow-orange flowers in the summer and fall.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for Pencil Flower?
Pencil Flower grows best in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the Pencil Flower Native To?
What Is the Pencil Flower?
Pencil Flower (Stylosanthes biflora) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Stylosanthes genus. Pencil Flower is native to the Southeastern United States. Pencil Flower is also known as Pill Burr, Arachis aprica, Stylosanthes biflora.
Pencil Flower displays a low-growing spreading perennial growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Pencil Flower produces small clusters of yellow, orange, or red flowers.
What Light Does the Pencil Flower Need?
Pencil Flower thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Pencil Flower?
Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Pencil Flower to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Pencil Flower?
Repot every 1-2 years in 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 Pencil Flower?
Pencil Flower can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to shrubby bush-clover plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Pencil Flower Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Pencil Flower, 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 Pencil Flower?
Pencil Flower 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.
Keep exploring plants
Pencil Flower 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 Stylosanthes genus — compare its care with other Stylosanthes species on PlantoScan.
Stylosanthes is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Pencil Flower 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: Stylosanthes biflora (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb., family Fabaceae (first published in Prelim. Cat. : 13 (1888)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Pencil Flower, 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: Mason Brock ( Masebrock ), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons — original.
- 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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