Arrowleaf Clover

Deep rooted, late flowering aerial clover

Trifolium vesiculosum

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Highly productive hard seeded species with deep root structure enabling excellent late spring/early summer growth. Adapted to deep acid sands but does not tolerate waterlogging or saline soils. White flower developing pink tinge. Suitable for grazing, hay and silage. Non bloating.

Key attributes

  • Late maturity extends grazing into summer
  • Deep rooting exploits subsoil moisture
  • High dry matter yield
  • Suppresses summer weed species
  • High proportion of hard seed for persistence
  • Simple and economic seed production

About this variety

Arrowleaf is a late maturing annual clover, and its lateness is the whole reason to sow it. Most annual legumes in a Mediterranean system have finished and dried off by the time spring is over, leaving a feed gap before summer forage is available. Arrowleaf keeps producing into that gap, extending the grazing period into summer.

It is deep rooting, which is what allows it to do that. A deep root exploits subsoil moisture that shallower rooted annual legumes cannot reach, so the plant is still growing when others have run out of water. That same root architecture makes it useful for opening up the soil profile.

Dry matter yield is high, and the standing crop suppresses summer weed species that would otherwise take the paddock once the winter pasture has gone. It is an aerial seeding clover with a high proportion of hard seed, which is the basis of its ability to come back year after year.

Arrowleaf also produces seed simply and economically compared to many legumes, which keeps the cost of the pasture phase down and makes it practical to hold a stand over several seasons rather than resowing.

Planting & grazing notes

Suitable for grazing, hay and silage. Late maturity – extends grazing period into summer. Arrowleaf Clover extends the grazing phase beyond that of traditional Subterranean Clover pastures by some 4 to 8 weeks into summer. This extended growth into summer provides high quality grazing and suppresses growth of summer weeds.

Disease & pest resistance

Deep-rooted / high hard seed content supports persistence; no specific disease resistance stated

Stand life

High proportion of hard seed for persistence. Arrowleaf clover is predominantly a hard-seeded species like Rose Clovers and Serradellas, consequently regeneration in the second year may be low if the pasture is not grazed after the sward ‘hays-off’. Consumption of the mature seed heads by livestock often improves sward regeneration in subsequent years.

How it's sold

FormPackStatus
Bare25 kgIn stock
Arrowleaf Clover

FAQs

My sub clover pasture on deep sand dries off in October. Is there a clover that keeps growing later into summer?

Yes, we recommend Arrowleaf Clover for exactly this. It is a deep-rooted, late-maturing annual that uses subsoil moisture beyond the reach of sub clover, and it can extend green feed by roughly 4 to 8 weeks into summer. It is adapted to deep acid sands, needs 400mm+ rainfall and takes about 110 days to flower in Perth.

What clover handles acidic deep sands in the northern wheatbelt with around 400mm of rain?

Our Arrowleaf Clover is a good fit for acidic deep sands in 400mm+ country. It tolerates low pH (from about pH 5) and suits soils from sands through to heavier types. Its deep roots reach moisture shallow-rooted legumes miss, and it grows most actively in spring and early summer.

How much Arrowleaf clover seed should I sow per hectare?

We recommend sowing Arrowleaf Clover at 3 to 10 kg/ha, using the lower end when it goes into a mix. We suggest it as a mix component with sub clovers or annual medics rather than as a pure sward. Inoculate with Group C inoculant before sowing, as for most annual clovers.

I want to add a legume to my sub clover and medic mix that will stretch grazing into summer. What should I add?

We suggest adding Arrowleaf Clover to your sub clover or medic mix. Its role is to turn moisture beyond the sub clover's root zone, and late spring rain after sub clover has senesced, into a bulk of quality feed. It is late maturing, flowers around 110 days in Perth and is sown at 3 to 10 kg/ha.

Is Arrowleaf clover a bloat risk for cattle?

Arrowleaf Clover is described as non-bloating, which makes it a safer legume option for cattle and sheep. It produces high quality feed in late spring and early summer and is suitable for grazing, hay and silage. As with any legume-rich pasture, we still suggest introducing hungry stock gradually.

Why didn't my late clover come back well in its second year?

Poor second-year regeneration is common with hard-seeded clovers like our Arrowleaf Clover if the stand isn't grazed after it hays off. Most seed stays hard, so grazing the mature seed heads over summer helps break that hardseededness and often improves regeneration. It also spreads seed through the paddock via the stock.

Can I cut a tall clover for hay or silage in late spring on my Great Southern farm?

Yes, Arrowleaf Clover suits hay and silage as well as grazing. It is an erect annual that commonly grows to about one metre, with strong stems that are not prone to lodging, so it cuts well. It produces high dry matter in late spring and early summer on 400mm+ rainfall.

Is there a clover that helps keep summer weeds down after spring?

Arrowleaf Clover is noted for suppressing summer weed species, thanks to its late, bulky growth into early summer. It is deep rooted, highly productive and adapted to deep acid sands. We recommend it as part of a mix with sub clovers or medics, sown at 3 to 10 kg/ha in 400mm+ rainfall areas.

Will a clover grow in a paddock that gets waterlogged or has some salt?

Arrowleaf Clover is not the right choice there, as it does not tolerate waterlogging or saline soils. For wet ground we would point you to Paradana Balansa or Kyambro Persian Clover, and for mildly saline, waterlogged soils Strawberry Clover is worth considering. Talk to us about the conditions in your paddock.

Arrowleaf vs Crimson clover, which is better for late spring feed?

Both give strong late spring feed, but they differ. Our Arrowleaf Clover is hard seeded, deep rooted and suits deep acid sands from 400mm rainfall, flowering around 110 days. Crimson Clover is soft seeded, needs 500mm+ and does best on free-draining heavier soils and gravelly loams, flowering around 120 days.