Desmodium canadense has the misfortune of the common name Showy Tick Trefoil.  Don't let that stop you!  This bushy perennial is definitely showy, with lovely rose colored, pea-like flowers that stand out mid-summer.  The "tick" probably refers to the sticky seed pods that will cling to your pants as you pass by.
 
     Showy Tick Trefoil displays beautifully in a meadow or other open area.  It can be an aggressive spreader, and it has a deep taproot, which makes it drought tolerant.  It also fixes nitrogen, which means it helps create nutritious growing conditions for surrounding plants.
 
     Showy Tick Trefoil grows well in sandy spots, although it is adaptable to many soil conditions.  It attracts butterflies, native bees and beetles, and it is a larval host for the Eastern Tailed-Blue, Gray Hairstreak and Hoary Edge butterflies.