Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Lotus crassifolius is a species of trefoil, a legume, known by the common names big deervetch and broad-leafed lotus. It is a long-lived, somewhat bushy plant which bears long straight stems with evenly spaced oval-shaped leaves. It produces thick bunches of yellow or pink-and-yellow pea flowers and brownish pea pods containing speckled red or brown peas. This legume is native to the western United States. One very rare variety of this plant is found only on Otay Mountain in southern San Diego County, California. Other varieties are much more common and can be found in chaparral ecosystems.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

2 - 5 ft Tall

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Color

Red, Pink, Yellow, Brown

Flowering season

Spring, Summer

Sun

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Ease of care

Moderate

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Common in disturbed, impoverished soil but does best on fine- to medium-textured, well-drained soil.

Plant communities

Lodgepole Forest, Red Fir Forest, Yellow Pine Forest

Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 2 likely

Confirmed Likely

Orange Sulphur

Colias eurytheme

Anna's Blue

Plebejus anna