As a member of the pea family, Illinois Bundleflower fixes nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility and benefiting surrounding plants.
Produces curled, brown seed pods in clusters (bundles) that give the plant its common name and make it easy to identify.
Seeds are highly nutritious and eaten by quail, turkeys, pheasants, and other birds, while foliage provides forage for deer and livestock.
Lives for years and spreads by seed, making it a reliable species for prairie restorations and pollinator gardens.
Indigenous peoples used this plant for food and medicinal purposes, and it’s now studied as a potential forage and soil-improving crop.
As a member of the pea family, Illinois Bundleflower fixes nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility and benefiting surrounding plants.
Produces curled, brown seed pods in clusters (bundles) that give the plant its common name and make it easy to identify.
Seeds are highly nutritious and eaten by quail, turkeys, pheasants, and other birds, while foliage provides forage for deer and livestock.
Lives for years and spreads by seed, making it a reliable species for prairie restorations and pollinator gardens.
Indigenous peoples used this plant for food and medicinal purposes, and it’s now studied as a potential forage and soil-improving crop.
Bloom: summer
Habitats: areas along levees; areas along railroads; black soil prairies; limestone glades; moist meadows near reivers; openings in woodlands
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: moist to mesic
Plant type (height): forb (2 to 4 feet)
Requirements: full sun to partial sun
Soil: fertile loam (other soils are tolerated)
