Trifolium hybridum
Alsike clover
Overview
Trifolium hybridum, alsike clover, is a short-lived perennial legume 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall, with smooth, ascending to sprawling stems rising from a central crown. The leaves are trifoliate with oval, finely toothed leaflets that, unlike red clover, lack a pale crescent mark and are carried on long stalks. From late spring through summer it bears rounded flower heads about 0.5-1 inch (1.5-2.5 cm) wide, the pea-type florets opening white to pale pink and deepening to rose-pink as they age before turning brown. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and tolerates wet, heavy, and mildly acidic soils better than most clovers, which is why it is sown for forage, hay, and cover cropping. Bees and other pollinators work the flowers heavily through the season. The plant self-seeds and naturalizes along roadsides, ditches, and damp meadows across temperate North America. It is poisonous to horses, causing photosensitisation and liver damage known as alsike clover poisoning, which limits its use in horse pasture. Individual plants are short-lived, but stands persist through self-seeding.
Native Range
Native to Europe and temperate Asia and widely introduced elsewhere. It is naturalized throughout much of North America after long use as a forage and cover crop.Suggested Uses
Sown for forage, hay, green manure, and cover cropping on wet or acidic ground, and used in pollinator and meadow seed mixes. It suits naturalized damp meadows and field margins. It is kept out of horse pastures because it is toxic to horses.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from late spring through summer, often May to September in cooler regions. Heads open white to pink and darken with age, so several colour stages show at once. Bloom continues for many weeks where soils stay moist.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white aging to pinkFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight