Clasping Venus' Looking Glass (Triodanis perfoliata) is a charming annual wildflower native to much of North America, including prairies, open woods, and roadsides. This fast-growing plant is known for its small, purple to violet flowers that bloom along its upright stems, paired with clasping, round leaves that give it a unique appearance. A member of the bellflower family (Campanulaceae), this plant is an excellent addition to naturalized gardens, wildflower meadows, and pollinator habitats, where its blooms attract a variety of beneficial insects.
 
Clasping Venus' Looking Glass typically blooms from late spring to mid-summer, with its delicate flowers providing nectar for bees, small butterflies, and other pollinators. While not a known host plant for specific butterfly or moth species, its nectar is an important resource for pollinators in native ecosystems. The plant also features cleistogamous flowers—self-fertilizing blooms that do not open—allowing it to produce seeds even without external pollinators, ensuring its ability to thrive in less favorable conditions.
 
Highly adaptable, Clasping Venus' Looking Glass grows well in a variety of soil types, from sandy to rocky and even clay soils, as long as the soil is well-drained. It prefers full sun to partial shade and is tolerant of both dry and moderately moist conditions. The seeds are easy to grow, requiring no special treatment, and can be sown directly onto the soil surface in the fall or early spring. The plant’s self-seeding habit allows it to naturalize in suitable habitats, returning year after year.