Haifa White Clover

Perennial clover for irrigation, a winter producer

Trifolium repens cv. Haifa

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Small-medium sized leaves with high winter / early spring activity. Older variety with prolific seed set and some hard seed dispersed by livestock.

Key attributes

  • Increased winter activity with medium leaf size
  • Increased stolon density over Ladino types
  • Strong winter producer under irrigation
  • Perennial clover for irrigated pasture
  • Limited summer production

About this variety

Haifa is a white clover selected for increased winter activity, with a medium leaf size, and it is used principally as the perennial clover component of irrigated pasture.

Winter activity is the trait that defines it. Many white clovers effectively stop in the cold months, leaving the grass component to carry the pasture through winter without a legume contributing feed or nitrogen. Haifa keeps working, which is why it is described as a winter producer.

It also carries increased stolon density compared to Ladino types. Stolons are the runners by which white clover spreads and repairs itself, and density of stolons is the best single predictor of whether a white clover stand will persist under grazing, so this is a persistence trait rather than a cosmetic one.

The trade-off is at the other end of the year: summer production is limited compared to Ladino types and later releases. Haifa therefore suits systems where winter and spring feed is the priority and summer production comes from elsewhere in the rotation, typically under irrigation alongside a perennial or Italian ryegrass.

Planting & grazing notes

Haifa white clover is a highly productive winter active variety suited to rotational grazing systems in higher rainfall areas or under irrigation in Western Australia. With all white clovers it is important to ensure that seed is not sown too deep (maximum 1.5 cm), and that pastures are frequently grazed to ensure light penetration to enhance plant establishment and development.

How it's sold

FormPackStatus
Bare25 kgIn stock
Haifa White Clover

FAQs

What clover should I sow in an irrigated pasture to get more winter growth?

We recommend Haifa White Clover. It is a medium-leaved, winter-active perennial clover suited to irrigation and higher rainfall areas, with high activity through winter and early spring. It was selected for more stolons than large-leaved Ladino types. It suits sandy to heavy soils with pH 5 or higher and handles low pH and waterlogging.

How much white clover seed do I add to a ryegrass pasture?

For Haifa White Clover, our catalogue lists 3 to 4 kg/ha with your ryegrass, while our 2026 guide lists 2 to 4 kg/ha. If you are sowing it with other white clovers, reduce the Haifa share to suit. Use Group C inoculant, and remember white clover is generally not competitive with annual ryegrass.

How deep should white clover seed be sown?

Sow white clover no deeper than 1.5cm. Our Haifa White Clover is a small seed, and sowing too deep is one of the most common reasons for poor establishment. Graze the pasture often after sowing so light reaches the young clover plants, and inoculate with Group C rhizobia before sowing.

What perennial clover handles wet, acidic soils in the high rainfall South West?

Haifa White Clover tolerates both low pH and waterlogging, which makes it useful in wet, acidic paddocks in higher rainfall country. It suits 500mm+ rainfall areas or irrigation, on sandy through to heavy soils with pH 5 or higher. It is best in rotationally grazed pastures with perennial or biennial ryegrass.

Which grass should I sow white clover with?

We recommend sowing Haifa White Clover with perennial or biennial ryegrasses, such as our Victorian perennial ryegrass or Hypa hybrid ryegrass. White clover is generally not competitive with annual ryegrass. Where irrigation is used, we suggest adding a more summer-active white clover to the mix to fill the summer gap.

Does white clover cause bloat in cattle?

Yes, white clover can cause bloat in cattle when it makes up a large share of a lush pasture. With Haifa White Clover, we suggest keeping a good grass balance with ryegrass, introducing hungry stock gradually and talking to your vet about bloat prevention. Rotational grazing also helps keep the pasture balanced.

Is Haifa white clover any good for summer feed?

Haifa White Clover has limited summer production compared with Ladino types and newer releases, because it was selected for winter activity. It is an older variety that is now mostly used as a mix component in higher rainfall zones that need winter growth. For summer feed, pair it with a more summer-active white clover under irrigation.

How do I keep a white clover pasture persisting year after year?

Graze often and rotationally so light reaches the clover stolons. Haifa White Clover is a perennial with prolific seed set, and some of its hard seed is spread by livestock, which helps thicken stands. Keep companion ryegrass under control, and maintain soil fertility and pH above 5.

How long does white clover take to flower in WA?

Our Haifa White Clover takes about 90 days to flower when sown in the Perth area, according to our 2026 guide. It is highly active through winter and early spring, which is when it produces most of its feed. Timing will vary with your district, sowing date and irrigation.

Haifa white clover vs red clover, which should I use?

Choose Haifa White Clover for grazed, irrigated or 500mm+ rainfall pastures where you want winter and early spring growth. Choose our Red Clover for summer growth, drought tolerance from its tap root, and hay or silage in 600mm+ rainfall areas. Haifa uses Group C inoculant and red clover uses Group B, so keep them separate at inoculation.