Illinois bundleflower is a native warm-season, perennial leguminous forb adapted to the central and eastern regions of the United States extending from Mexico into Canada. Illinois bundleflower is found in prairie remnants, sloughs, woodland edges, or disturbed areas. It does best on medium textured soils but will grow on a wide range of soils with an annual rainfall range of 16 to 32 inches. The seeds are readily consumed by upland game birds and the plant is highly palatable livestock and deer. Illinois bundleflower is an attractive plant in the landscape because of its unique fern appearance and the closing and opening of the leaves in response to sunlight and heat.
Attractive in mass plantings as well as in species mixes.
Highly palatable and nutritious legume.
*Special considerations for spring planting: seed germination can be improved with mechanical scarification. Seed needs to be inoculated with Rhizobium for nitrogen fixation to occur. Germination of scarified seed generally occurs within 2 weeks after planting provided adequate soil moisture and temperature conditions are met.