Medicago

( med - ih - kah - goh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering herbaceous plants is known commonly as Medick or Burclover. Species are native to a wide area around the Mediterranean Basin, extending across temperate Eurasia and sub-Saharan Africa. The most well-known species is Medicago sativa, or Alfalfa, which is a widely grown crop and important forage food for livestock. Use Alfalfa as a cover crop to improve soil health and structure, as a rotational crop with corn, or as a feed for dairy cattle or chickens. They can also be grown as sprouts, or microgreens.

Medicago Species and Varietals

The genus Medicago is a member of the plant family Fabaceae, and includes over 87 species. The plants in this genus are closely related to those in Trigonella (Fenugreek) and Trifolium (Clover). The best growing zones for Medicago plants vary depending on the species grown. For more information, see the species descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Medicago arabica (Spotted Medick, Spotted Burclover, Heart Clover)
These flowering herbaceous plants are native to the Mediterranean basin, but can be found worldwide. They are suited for USDA hardiness zones 6-11 and grow in grassy areas. The species forms a sprawling plant that reaches up to about 2 feet tall when mature. Leaves are trifoliate and centrally blotched with dark red. Flowers are pale yellow and bloom from April through August. This species is considered invasive in Chile, Australia, New Zealand, California and the southeast region of the United States.

Medicago arborea (Moon Trefoil, Shrub Medick, Alfalfa Arborea, Tree Medik)
Native to the Mediterranean, these plants prefer to grow along rocky shorelines amongst shrubby vegetation. It is grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, prized for its green foliage and bright yellow flowers. These shrubs typically reach between 3 and 13 feet tall when mature. This species grows well in USDA hardiness zones 8-11 and is considered invasive in Australia, New Zealand, and France.

Medicago lupulina (Hop Clover, Black Medick, Nonesuch, Black Clover, Yellow Trefoil)
These grassland legumes are native to Europe, north Africa, the Near East, and Asia, where it thrives in moist, well-draining soils. They are suited for USDA hardiness zones 3a-9b. It is an annual or short-lived perennial plant, reaching up to 30 inches tall. Plants that live for more than a year form a deep tap root. Flowers are yellow. These plants are a great source of nectar for local pollinators, and are also used as fodder plants for feeding livestock. Hop Clover is considered invasive in the United States, Canada, Hawai'i, New Zealand, the Philippines, and several Pacific Islands.

Medicago sativa (Alfalfa, Lucerne, Purple Medick, Purple Lucerne, Violet-Flower Lucerne, Variegated Lucerne, Sand Lucerne)
These plants are cultivated worldwide as important livestock fodder crops and as cover crops. These are perennial plants, and normally live between 4 and 8 years (but can live up to 20). They form deep root systems, sometimes extending as much as 50 feet deep to reach groundwater. Immature sprouts of these plants are cultivated and used as garnish on various dishes such as salads and sandwiches. When grown for this purpose, soilless mediums are typically used. This species is considered invasive in Hawai'i and the western United States, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Medicago polymorpha (California Burclover, Toothed Burclover, Toothed Medick, Burr Medic, )
These annual plants are common weeds of roadsides, agricultural fields, and other disturbed areas, and are native to the Mediterranean Basin. They grow as prostrate herbs to 2 to 24 inches tall and 24 to 32 inches wide. California Burclover makes a good fodder or forage food for livestock and produces green foliage and yellow flowers. These plants are edible, and are consumed as a vegetable in China and Mexico. This species is considered highly invasive in the western United States, Australia, South America, Africa, and Eurasia.

Caring for Medicago

Alfalfa plants are typically grown from seed broadcasted in the garden. If you will only be planting a few Alfalfa plants to bein with, they can be started indoors and transplanted outside after the last frost of the year has passed by. Choose a space in the garden that receives full sun; ideally, these plants like to get between 6 and 8 hours of sun each day for best performance (growth and flowering). Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. Alfalfa plants appreciate consistently moist soil when mature.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Alfalfa plants don't need to be pruned, though once it has finished blooming, it can be chopped and dropped (cut down and left in place to enrich the soil). Alfalfa plants are perennials, and will come back year after year if they receive proper care.

Harvesting Medicago
Alfalfa sativa can be harvested at different stages of growth for different purposes, and its sprouts, leaves and stems, flowers, and seeds are all edible. It is mainly cultivated for green manure or as feed, especially for horses, cows, and chickens, but is also grown as microgreens for human consumption. Alfalfa has a high protein content and impressive dry yields. Garden grown plants can be harvested three or four times each year and fed to animals. To grow Alfalfa microgreens, place seeds in a shallow tray indoors under a grow light or in a sunny window. Once the seedlings reach a few inches tall (which should happen within two weeks' time), harvest by cutting stems just above the soil line with scissors. Alfalfa microgreens can be stored unwashed in an airtight container lined with a dry paper towel for 5-10 days.

Disclaimer: Information contained on this website is strictly and categorically intended as a reference to be used in conjunction with experts in your area. Foraging and consumption of plant parts should never begin without the guidance and approval of a local plant specialist. The providers of this website accept no liability for the use or misuse of information contained in this website.

Propagation

Medicago, or Alfalfa, can be propagated by cutting or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Alfalfa, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Medicago by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Medicago by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 3-4 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Alfalfa seed pods form on plants after flowers have faded and look a bit like snails.

Alfalfa seeds are small, kidney-shaped and tan to light reddish-brown in color.

Problems and Pests

Certain Medicago species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Alfalfa plants can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape: