Lotus tenuis, commonly known as Narrowleaf Bird’s-foot Trefoil, is a perennial herb in the pea family, native to temperate grasslands, meadows, and roadsides in Europe and Asia. It typically grows to a height of 10-50 cm and spreads to form a low mat. The plant features delicate, narrow leaves and produces small, yellow pea-like flowers from late spring to late summer, which are moderately showy and attract pollinators. The stems can root at the nodes, allowing the plant to spread effectively.

Narrowleaf Bird’s-foot Trefoil is valued for its nitrogen-fixing ability, which can improve soil fertility, and its resilience to poor soil conditions, making it useful for erosion control and as a forage plant in agriculture. It is also used in ornamental plantings for ground cover and in wildflower meadows. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade and can tolerate a range of soil types, provided they are well-drained. While it is drought-tolerant once established, moderate watering will encourage more vigorous growth. Gardeners should be cautious, as Lotus tenuis can become invasive outside its native range, especially in similar temperate climates.CC BY-SA 4.0