Alsike clover is adapted to cool, moist acidic soils and can tol-erate more flooding than other clovers. Flower heads are pink or white and smaller than those of red clover. Blooms contin-ue throughout the season, making it suitable for hay over an extended window. Excellent winter-hardiness, intolerant of drought and extreme heat. Alsike clover has a branched root system that penetrates deep into the subsoil. Good regrowth after cutting. Less shade tolerant than other clovers.
Tillers are prolific, but more slender and prostrate than those of red clover. Stems are hairless.
Alsike works well in a mixture with timothy or brome grass. Grass helps support clover in a more upright growth habit, but be careful with very tall grasses, as alsike is not shade tolerant. Close grazing (2 inches) favors clover, while lighter grazing favors grass. Usually only yields one hay cutting per season.
Note: Alsike Clover is toxic to horses. If present in a horse pasture, it should make up no more than 5 percent of the stand.
