Arrowleaf Clover

Scientific Name: Trifolium vesiculosum Savi

Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Magnoliophyta / Magnoliopsida / Rosidae / Fabales / Fabaceae / Leguminosae / Trifolium L./ Trifolium vesiculosum Savi

Arrowleaf Clover
General Information
Usda SymbolTRVE
GroupDicot
Life CycleAnnual
Growth HabitsForb/herb
Native LocationsTRVE

Plant Guide

Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Arrowleaf Clover.

Fact Sheet

Uses

Arrowleaf clover is suitable for hay, grazing, seed production, soil improvement, and wildlife, Deer and turkey readily feed on this clover, which often persists well into early summer, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Arrowleaf Clover.,

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Arrowleaf clover is an upright, cool-season, reseeding annual legume that grows to a height of 40 to 50 inches under good conditions. Seeds germinate in the fall, but grow slowly during the winter. Leaflets are large, rounded at the base and pointed at the tip. Some leaflets have white, V-shaped markings. Blossoms are arranged in a cluster or head up to 2 inches long. Initially, the blossoms are white to pinkish, turning brown when mature.

Adaptation and Distribution

Distribution

Distribution

The plant is suited to a wide range of soil conditions from well- to moderately well-drained and from slightly acid to slightly alkaline. It is not suited to light textured, droughty soil of low fertility or to poorly drained, wet soils. Arrowleaf clover is distributed throughout the midsouth and southeastern United States. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website.

Establishment

Prepare a smooth, clean seedbed. Firm with a cultipacker before and after planting. Cover seed ¼ to ½ inch deep. Arrowleaf clover may also be planted in an established summer perennial grass sod by light disking or with a no-till drill. Interseeding into a grass sod should be delayed until about the first frost date. Plant at a rate of 10 lbs of inoculated seed per/acre. Follow soil test recommendations, if available. If not, apply 300 lbs/acre of 0-20-20 or similar analysis at planting time, and annually (August or September) as a maintenance fertilizer. Management Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center Americus, GA Start grazing when plants are 5 to 6 inches tall. Maintain a minimum top growth of 3 to 4 inches during the growing-season. For commercial seed production, exclude livestock or do not cut for hay after May 1. For reseeding, allow plants to attain a minimum height of 12 to 15 inches in early July to mature seed. For hay, cut in early bloom stage. When ‘Meechee’ arrowleaf clover is grown with summer perennial grasses, graze or cut surplus growth of grass to 2 inches by October 1.

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Frost Free Days, Minimum210
Frost Free Days, Minimum210
Frost Free Days, Minimum210
Fire ToleranceMedium
Fire ToleranceLow
Fire ToleranceLow
Fertility RequirementHigh
Fertility RequirementHigh
Fertility RequirementHigh
Drought ToleranceLow
Drought ToleranceLow
Drought ToleranceLow
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Temperature, Minimum (°F)7
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Hedge ToleranceNone
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-6
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-3
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Salinity ToleranceNone
Salinity ToleranceNone
Salinity ToleranceNone
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)10
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)10
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)10
Precipitation, Minimum36
Precipitation, Minimum36
Precipitation, Minimum35
Precipitation, Maximum70
Hedge ToleranceNone
Hedge ToleranceNone
Moisture UseMedium
Moisture UseMedium
Moisture UseMedium
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Maximum7.5
pH, Minimum6.0
pH, Minimum6.0
pH, Minimum6.0
Precipitation, Maximum70
Precipitation, Maximum70


Morphology/Physiology

Active Growth PeriodYear Round
ToxicitySlight
ToxicitySlight
ToxicitySlight
Shape and OrientationSemi-Erect
Shape and OrientationSemi-Erect
Shape and OrientationSemi-Erect
Resprout AbilityNo
Flower ConspicuousYes
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Fire ResistantNo
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ColorWhite
Flower ConspicuousYes
Fall ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousYes
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
Foliage Porosity SummerModerate
BloatLow
Resprout AbilityNo
Active Growth PeriodYear Round
Active Growth PeriodYear Round
After Harvest Regrowth RateSlow
After Harvest Regrowth RateSlow
After Harvest Regrowth RateSlow
BloatLow
BloatLow
Resprout AbilityNo
C:N RatioLow
C:N RatioLow
C:N RatioLow
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Growth RateRapid
Height, Mature (feet)3.0
Height, Mature (feet)3.0
Height, Mature (feet)3.5
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Leaf RetentionNo
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Leaf RetentionNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
Nitrogen FixationHigh
Nitrogen FixationHigh
Nitrogen FixationHigh
Growth RateRapid
Growth RateRapid
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage Porosity WinterPorous
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage TextureMedium
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Growth FormSingle Crown
Growth FormSingle Crown
Growth FormSingle Crown
Fruit/Seed ColorBrown


Reproduction

Propagated by TubersNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by SeedYes
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Seed per Pound399161
Seed per Pound399161
Seed per Pound399161
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seed Spread RateSlow
Seedling VigorHigh
Seedling VigorHigh
Seedling VigorHigh
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CuttingsNo
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed AbundanceHigh
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo
Fruit/Seed Period EndSummer
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by ContainerNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Propagated by Bare RootNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceNo


Suitability/Use

Palatable Browse AnimalHigh
Palatable Graze AnimalHigh
Palatable Graze AnimalHigh
Palatable Graze AnimalHigh
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Protein PotentialHigh
Protein PotentialHigh
Protein PotentialHigh
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Fodder ProductYes
Fodder ProductYes
Fodder ProductYes
Palatable Browse AnimalHigh
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Nursery Stock ProductNo
Palatable Browse AnimalHigh

Arrowleaf Clover

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