The flowers bloom from June to September and develop into small pea-like pods or legumes.

[11] In the Chicago Region, mostly non-native bees have been observed visiting the flowers, including Andrena wilkella, Anthidium oblongatum, Apis mellifera and Megachile rotundata.

[12] The native bees Bombus impatiens and Megachile relativa have also been observed visiting birdsfoot trefoil flowers, though the latter only rarely.

[14] Birdsfoot trefoil is an invasive species in many parts of North America and Australia.

It has been commonly planted along roadsides for erosion control or pastures for forage and then spreads into natural areas.

[12] The use of prescribed fire is not an effective management tool against L. corniculatus and herbicide is recommended instead to control it.

[12] The species contains cyanogenic glycosides,[15] which release small amounts of hydrogen cyanide when macerated.

[18] In the traditional medicine of the Sannio regio of Italy, the diluted infusions were used for anxiety, insomnia, and exhaustion.