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Native Plant Database

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Lotus scoparius (Common deerweed)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Lotus scoparius (Nutt.) Ottley

Common deerweed, Deerweed

Fabaceae (Pea Family)

USDA Symbol: LOSC2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The bunched, erect, tough, green stems have small, pinnately compound leaves and 1-4 yellow pea flowers in clusters in the upper leaf axils.

This is one of the many species of flowering plants that thrive after fire has ravaged chaparral-covered slopes. It vigorously persists for several years, although it is choked out of most areas by the thick brush that eventually returns. By taking advantage of the open habitat and quickly covering exposed slopes, it helps reduce erosion, which would be far greater if the soil depended for cover on the slower-growing brush. Like most other members of the Pea Family, it has the capacity to enrich the soil with nitrogen.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: Most of California to northern Baja California.
Native Habitat: Dry brushy slopes.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Lotus scoparius is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Coastal Green Hairstreak
(Callophrys dumetorum)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Avalon Scrub-Hairstreak
(Strymon avalona)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Afranius Duskywing
(Erynnis afranius)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Lotus scoparius in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Lotus scoparius in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lotus scoparius

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-04-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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