Clover – Spanish

Spanish Clover is a delicate annual legume in the pea family (Fabaceae). Despite the name “clover,” it is not a true clover (Trifolium) but shares similar ecological roles and growth habits.

Native to western North America, Spanish Clover thrives in a variety of habitats including dry meadows, grasslands, coastal forests, mountain plains, and disturbed sites such as roadsides or recently cleared land. It is particularly well adapted to dry, open areas and is known for its ability to colonize and stabilize disturbed or degraded soils, contributing to natural ecosystem recovery.

The plant is low-growing with slender, somewhat sprawling stems that are often hairy. Its foliage features trifoliolate leaves—three leaflets per leaf—which is typical of many legumes. During its blooming period, Spanish Clover produces small, pea-like flowers that last for just a single day. The flowers initially open white with yellow tips in the morning, gradually shifting to pink tones by late afternoon or evening. After blooming, each flower quickly sets a narrow, elongated seed pod.

Spanish Clover is appreciated not only for its ecological benefits—such as nitrogen fixation and erosion control—but also for its value to pollinators and small wildlife. It completes its life cycle quickly and may reseed under favorable conditions, making it a useful species in restoration projects and low-maintenance native plantings.

The broadcast rate for seeding is 30 – 37.5 pounds per acre.

The seed drill rate for seeding in rows is 15 pounds per acre.