Trifolium michelianum (Balansa clover)
Extremely productive, nitrogen-fixing winter annual legume with small white-pink flowers. Grows on heavy clays to moderately sandy soils. Tolerant of acidity; mildly tolerant of salinity. Mature plants are tolerant of waterlogged soils and short periods of flooding. Prostrate, hollow stemmed plants form a dense, highly productive mat of extremely palatable forage. Use as cover crop, pasture, wildlife food plots, hay or silage, either in a monoculture or mixed with other species. Germinates quickly. Persists even under continuous, intensive grazing. Readily reseeds itself when allowed to set seed. Attractive pollinator and honeybee plant. Varieties listed below.
DISTRIBUTION / ADAPTATION
INFORMATION & ATTRIBUTES
Family: Fabaceae
Duration: Annual
Growth Habit: Forb
Native Status: Introduced
Growth Form: Multi-branched rosette
Mature Height: 36 in. (w/ stems trailing up to 8 ft. long)
Bloom Color: White to pink
Bloom Period: Spring
Annual Precipitation:
Drought Tolerance:
Shade Tolerance:
Fire Resistance:
Fire Tolerance:
Nitrogen fixation: Yes
Bloat: Yes
SOIL ADAPTATION
Coarse Texture: No
Medium Texture: Yes
Fine Texture: Yes
Salinity Tolerance: Yes
CaCO3 Tolerance:
pH Range: 4.5-8.3
SEEDING NOTES
Seeds per Pound: 500,000
Seeding Rate: 3-8 lbs/acre
Season: Fall/Winter
Days to Germination:
VARIETIES
FIXatioN - Produces huge amounts of biomass, suppressing weeds. Matures up to 14 days later than Dixie (Crimson clover, Trifolium incarnatum) and up to 28 days later than previously developed varieties, resulting in greater overall growth and productivity. Better recovery from grazing or cutting than crimson clover. More winter hardy than other varieties.