Practical
Plants

Trifolium dubium

Suckling Clover

an annual member of the Trifolium genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.5 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Bees, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Self

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is haemostatic[4]. A poultice of the chopped plant has been applied to cuts to stop the bleeding[4].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant fixes atmospheric nitrogen and is used in seed mixes with grasses for land reclamation sowings[2].

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Sweden south and east to Spain and the Caucasus.
Habitat
Grassy places throughout Britain[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring to early summer in situ.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a moist, well-drained circum-neutral soil in full sun[2]. Succeeds in poor soils[2]. Grows well in a wild flower lawn[2]. It grows well in an apple orchard, the trees will produce tastier fruit that stores better[3]. 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[3]. The nectar-rich flowers are a good food source for bees and butterflies[2]. 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[2]. Buttercups growing nearby depress the growth of the nitrogen bacteria by means of a root exudate[3]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  3. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

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