Plant Characteristics: Perennial, semi-erect, short-lived, grows 24 to 36 inches tall. Leaves are palmately trifoliolate with finely serrated leaf margins and prominent veins. Leaves are smooth with no "watermarks." Stipules are sharply pointed. White to pink flowers, tend to be bi-color.

Is alsike clover White clover?

Alsike Clover resembles Trifolium repens (White Clover), except its leaves develop from the stems rather than from runners in the ground, and there are no chevrons (white-markings) on its leaflets. Alsike Clover is usually somewhat taller than White Clover, and its flowerheads are usually more pinkish in appearance.

Does alsike clover spread?

Alsike clover may be spread by seed and may be considered weedy in some locations. It can spread into adjoining vegetative communities under ideal climatic and environmental conditions. Plant alsike clover at 1- 3 pounds per acre PLS in 12 inch rows as early in the spring as possible.

Can horses eat alsike clover?

Alsike clover, in either hay or pasture form, is poisonous to horses. ... Horses with alsike clover poisoning may show signs of liver disease; they become nervous, go off feed and show signs of colic. They may also pass brown urine and clay-coloured manure.

Is alsike clover a perennial?

Alsike Clover is a short-lived perennial cool-season crop lasting 2-3 years with a deep taproot and growing 24 to 36 inches tall. ... Alsike Clover is an extremely winter hardy perennial clover. A legume that is more adaptable to a variety of soil types and is extremely easy to grow in almost any condition.

Clover Identification Pt 1

36 related questions found

How much alsike clover is bad for horses?

Alsike clover should not be fed to horses in greater than 5% of the feed.

How do you plant an alsike clover?

Alsike prefers moist soil but tolerates acidic, alkaline, infertile, or poorly drained soil. However, it doesn't tolerate drought. You can plant alsike clover seeds with grass, or overseed the seed into grass in spring. Plant alsike clover at a rate of 2 to 4 pounds (1-2 kg.)

What does alsike look like?

Alsike clover is a plant with a semi-erect, sparsely branched, grooved stem, hairy in its upper regions. The leaves are alternate and stalked with small stipules. The leaves have three blunt-tipped ovate, unspotted leaflets with finely toothed margins. The flowers are quite distinct with a white and pink appearance.

What is alsike clover good for?

Alsike Clover Seed – hancockseed.com. Alsike Clover is a short-lived, non-creeping perennial clover with a growth habit similar to red clover and can be used for hay, pasture, soil improvement, and wildlife food plot. Alsike Clover, when flowering is especially attractive to bees.

What kind of clover is bad for horses?

Unlike the relatively non-toxic red and white clovers, alsike clover is known to cause two more serious conditions in horses: photosensitization and big liver syndrome. Long-term exposure to the alsike clover may lead to big liver syndrome, which is the progressive destruction of the liver.

What is the difference between white clover and red clover?

Red clover grows tall and upright, while white clover grows shorter in height and spreads laterally. Red clover is has a short life-cycle, approximately two to three years, while white clover is a persistent grower that can reseed itself, even under grazing conditions.

What is the meaning of alsike?

/ (ˈælsaɪk, -sɪk, ˈɔːl-) / noun. a clover, Trifolium hybridum, native to Europe and Asia but widely cultivated as a forage crop.

Can cows eat alsike clover?

Not every horse on a pasture will be affected as some will selectively eat alsike clover over other forages. Alsike clover contains a pyrrolizidine alkaloid that causes liver damage. ... The symptoms are actually a result of liver damage. It is less common but cattle can be affected by alsike clover as well.

Is alsike clover good for deer?

White Ladino Clover is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and energy required by white-tail deer. Alsike Clover is an easy to establish clover for poor quality soils. However, alsike clover is intolerant of drought and high temperatures. It provides a good source of energy, protein, and calcium required by deer.

How do you identify Red Clover?

Identifying Characteristics: The white V pattern on Red Clover can help to identify it from other plants. However, white clover leaflets have the same pattern. To distinguish Red Clover from White Clover, the most reliable identifying characteristic is the pink to purple flower head, which is unique to Red Clover.

Do horses like white clover?

Clover can be a good feed source for most horses because it provides useful energy and adequate protein and fiber. You can use clover in hay or pastures. Clovers can sometimes mold, which causes slobbers, photosensitivity (reactive to light) and bleeding.

Is clover bad for laminitis?

Poisoning principles and symptoms: Clovers may contain oestrogens, cyanogenic glycosides, goitrogens, nitrates and other substances which may cause health problems in horses. They can be associated with laminitis, blood coagulation disorders and photosensitivity.

Can you plant alsike clover in the fall?

If you're planting grasses, legumes or clover to replenish nutrients, suppress weeds or more, we recommend planting in early to mid fall. Let the grass grow until frost.

What clover is best for bees?

Alsike clover is considered one of the best plants for honey bees in North America, especially in cool moist areas like the Pacific Northwest. Unlike other clover species, alsike clover thrives in wet waterlogged soils and is very winter hardy.

Why do horses drool after eating clover?

When consumed while grazing or as hay, clover infected with this fungus will often cause horses to slobber excessively. This is known as Slaframine poisoning. The fungus infects red clover, white clover, alsike clover, and alfalfa. ... The slaframine stimulates the salivary glands and causes horses to drool.

What's the best hay for horses?

There are two primary types of horse hay: legume and grass. Alfalfa is the best variety of legume hay, and Orchard grass is the grass hay I recommend; however, Timothy, bermudagrass, bahiagrass, and Kentucky bluegrass are also excellent choices.

Is white clover toxic?

The common weed known as white clover releases toxic cyanide when its leaf tissues are damaged. This chemical defense, a response called cyanogenesis, helps it to deter insect pests.