Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is a common flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae, native to grassland in temperate Eurasia and North Africa.
The name Bird’s-foot Trefoil comes from its seed heads which look like birds’ claws. It is also known as ‘Bacon & Eggs’ due to its egg-yolk yellow flowers which are often tipped with red (coincidentally the seed pods look as much like sausages as birds claws so it is a full fried breakfast!).
The flowers are attractive to bumblebees and butterflies and it is the food plant for the caterpillars of the lovely Common Blue butterfly. Birds-foot Trefoil is a low growing, perennial member of the pea family of sunny, well-drained site.
