The Story
Plant Bio
Hoita orbicularis, still sold as Psoralea orbicularis, is a prostrate perennial legume from California and northern Baja that roots along the ground to form a low mat. The leaves are trifoliate with large round hairy leaflets to about four inches across, and the roots fix nitrogen through rhizobial nodules like other peas.
This species stays four to twelve inches tall while spreading two to ten feet wide, with flowering stalks that rise well above the foliage to about fourteen inches. The pea flowers are one-half to three-quarter inch long, pink-purple with a white patch on the banner and a mostly white keel, borne in many-flowered erect racemes.
Uses & Benefits:
Essentials
At a Glance
Plant Type
Perennial
Height
12"
Width
118"
Light
Full Sun
Water
High
Humidity
Unknown
Lifespan
Perennial
Native To
California, Baja Norte
Toxicity
Unknown
Bloom period
Spring – Summer
In flower about 6 months of the year
Planting
How to Grow
- Choose a full-sun site with moist meadow, streamside, or rain-garden soil that stays damp through summer.
- Set plants at the same depth as in the pot, spacing to allow several feet of lateral spread.
- Water deeply at planting and keep soil consistently moist through the first season.
- Top with leaf mulch to hold moisture and keep crowns clear of standing debris.
Pro Tip
Give it sun with constantly moist soil at a pond edge or swale; it stalls in dry garden soil.
Keep It Thriving
Care Guide
Do
- Keep soil moist; this is a streamside plant, not a dry-garden legume.
- Give full sun for compact mat growth and strong bloom.
- Leave room for the mat to spread several feet wide.
Don't
- Do not let the root zone dry out in summer.
- Do not plant it in a dry border or with drought-only natives.
Seasonal Care Calendar
| Task | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deadhead | ||||||||||||
| Mulch | ||||||||||||
| Pest Check | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
Watch Out For
Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
In the Garden
Landscape Uses & Companions
Landscape Uses
Good to Know
Common Questions
Roundleaf Leather-Root questions
When does Roundleaf Leather-Root bloom?
Roundleaf Leather-Root typically blooms from spring to summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.
Does Roundleaf Leather-Root need full sun?
Roundleaf Leather-Root does best in full sun (6+ hours).
More Psoralea to compare
Keep exploring
Explore the genus
Grow Roundleaf Leather-Root with confidence
See it in a design of your actual yard, get zone-matched care reminders, and track it season by season in your garden journal.