Practical
Plants

Trifolium macrocephalum

Bighead Clover

a perennial member of the Trifolium genus in the family Leguminosae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.25 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

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

Leaves - cooked and used as a greens[3].

Plant part
Leaves

Ecology and functions

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Western N. America - Idaho to Washington and California.
Habitat
Dry, often rocky soils, usually amongst sagebrush or under yellow pine[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
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 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 in late spring. Division in spring.

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in a moist, well-drained circum-neutral soil in full sun[1]. Succeeds in poor soils. It grows well in an apple orchard, the trees will produce tastier fruit that stores better[2]. 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[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[1]. Buttercups growing nearby depress the growth of the nitrogen bacteria by means of a root exudate[2].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩1↩2

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