Alsike Clover
Trifolium hybridum
Also listed as Amoria hybrida
Also known as Hybrid Clover, Swedish Clover
Climate Match for your location
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Alsike clover is a short-lived perennial legume with small pink to white flower heads, commonly used as a cover crop and forage plant. It establishes quickly and improves soil nitrogen naturally.
Why grow it
Alsike clover establishes faster than white clover and tolerates wetter soils better than red clover, making it useful in poorly drained conditions where other clovers struggle. Its fine texture and palatability make it competitive with red clover for mixed-species pastures and cover crop blends, though it typically lasts only 2-3 years compared to red clover's longevity. Like other legumes, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen without additional fertilizer input.
Watch out for
Alsike clover performs best in cool-season climates and may struggle in hot, dry regions without consistent moisture. The plants tend to lodge (fall over) in fertile soils with excessive nitrogen, which can reduce forage quality and harvest efficiency. Grazing animals should be introduced gradually to prevent bloat, a potentially serious digestive condition associated with legume pastures.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Scandinavia and northern Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Alsike clover is a short-lived perennial legume with small pink to white flower heads, commonly used as a cover crop and forage plant. It establishes quickly and improves soil nitrogen naturally.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Alsike Clover grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Alsike clover establishes faster than white clover and tolerates wetter soils better than red clover, making it useful in poorly drained conditions where other clovers struggle. Its fine texture and palatability make it competitive with red clover for mixed-species pastures and cover crop blends, though it typically lasts only 2-3 years compared to red clover's longevity. Like other legumes, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen without additional fertilizer input.
Watch out for
Alsike clover performs best in cool-season climates and may struggle in hot, dry regions without consistent moisture. The plants tend to lodge (fall over) in fertile soils with excessive nitrogen, which can reduce forage quality and harvest efficiency. Grazing animals should be introduced gradually to prevent bloat, a potentially serious digestive condition associated with legume pastures.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Scandinavia and northern Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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