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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Trifolium_hybridum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from June to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Trifolium elegans. Trifolium hybridum elegans

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Leaves and flower heads - raw or cooked. Boiled, or after soaking for several hours in salty water[183]. A delightful and healthful tea is made from the dried flower heads[183]. They are usually mixed with other teas[183]. The dried flower heads and seeds can be ground into a nutritious flour[183].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

A cold infusion of the plant has been used as a wash on the breasts of a nursing mother in order to increase the milk flow[257].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dynamic accumulator.

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a moist, well-drained circum-neutral soil in full sun[200]. Succeeds in poor soils. Closely related to T. repens[60]. It grows well in an apple orchard, the trees will produce tastier fruit that stores better[201]. It should not be grown with camellias or gooseberries because it harbours a mite that can cause fruit drop in the gooseberries and premature budding in the camellias[201]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200]. Buttercups growing nearby depress the growth of the nitrogen bacteria by means of a root exudate[201].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in situ. If the seed is in short supply it might be better to sow it in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Division in spring.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Checheno-Ingushetia, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karacaevo-Cerkesskaja Respublika, Krasnodar, Stavropol) EUROPE: Czechoslovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Russian Federation (Baškortostan, Respublika, Cuvašskaja Respublika, Kalmykija, Respublika, Karelia, Komi, Marij Èl, Respublika, Mordovija, Respublika, Tatarstan, Udmurtia, Arkhangelsk, Neneckij avtonomnyj okrug, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kalužskaja oblast, Kirov, Kostroma, Kursk, Leningradskaja oblast, Lipeckaja oblast, Moscow, Murmansk, Novgorod, Orel, Orenburg, Penza, Perm, Komi-Permyak, Pskovskaja oblast, Rostov, Ryazan, Saratov, Smolensk, Tambov, Tula, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgogradskaja oblast, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl), Ukraine (incl. Krym), Former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Greece (incl. Crete), Italy, Romania, Spain, France AFRICA: Morocco

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Trifolium hybridum	Alsike Clover	Perennial	0.6	0-0		LMH	N	M	2	1	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Trifolium_hybridum - L.