Ornamental clover, belonging to the Trifolium genus, offers an alternative to traditional greenery. These cultivated plants are prized for their striking foliage, available in various colors, patterns, and shapes. Unlike common lawn varieties, ornamental clovers are grown for their decorative qualities, making them popular for garden use.
Understanding Ornamental Clover Varieties
Ornamental clovers are prized for varied foliage. Many popular varieties are Trifolium repens cultivars, bred for ornamental traits.
For instance, ‘Atropurpureum’ features deep purple to nearly black foliage, often with a green margin. ‘Iron Cross’ (Trifolium deppeanum) is recognized by its four-leaflet structure, each green leaflet having a maroon or dark central blotch. Varieties like ‘Sweet Mike’ display a three-color pattern: a dark heart fanning to green leaves with red spots. ‘Isabella’ features leaves transitioning from a grass-green core to red, while ‘Josephine’ reverses this, with red centers fading to green. These variations in leaf color, patterns, size, and habit offer diverse landscaping options.
Planting and Growing Care
Site Selection and Soil
Ornamental clover thrives in full sun to partial shade; sunlight enhances color. Well-draining soil is ideal, as they do not tolerate soggy conditions. They adapt to various soil types (clay or sandy-loam) and tolerate minimal nutrients. Prepare the site by ensuring good drainage and incorporating organic matter.
Watering and Light
Consistent moisture benefits ornamental clover during establishment. Newly planted clover requires regular watering to help roots settle, keeping soil moist but not waterlogged. Once established, plants tolerate drier conditions but perform best with consistent moisture. While many ornamental clovers prefer full sun to partial shade, afternoon shade in hotter climates prevents leaf scorch and maintains color.
Fertilization
Ornamental clover, a legume, fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. This natural process, aided by Rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules, reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental nitrogen. While they produce enough nitrogen for their own growth, they typically do not provide excess nitrogen for surrounding plants. Therefore, fertilization is often minimal or unnecessary, making them a low-input garden choice. Over-fertilization, particularly with nitrogen, can promote excessive leafy growth, diminishing unique color patterns.
Landscaping Uses and Benefits
Ornamental clover offers versatile garden applications, serving as an attractive, quickly forming ground cover. Its low-growing, spreading habit effectively fills spaces, suppresses weeds, and provides a cohesive visual element. They are also well-suited for container plantings, their trailing or mounding forms spilling over edges, adding texture and color to pots and hanging baskets. As border plants, they create defined edges with distinct foliage, enhancing garden bed structure.
Diverse leaf colors (deep purples, variegated greens, reds) add visual interest and contrast. Beyond aesthetics, their nitrogen-fixing capability enriches the soil, improving fertility and benefiting neighboring plants. This natural soil amendment, combined with low maintenance, makes them practical. They also help break up denser soils and prevent erosion.
Common Concerns and Management
While ornamental clover is a desirable plant, some varieties, particularly Trifolium repens cultivars, can be vigorous spreaders, rooting at nodes and expanding rapidly. Managing this spread may involve occasional trimming or containment, especially where they might outcompete other plants. Regular mowing, if used as a lawn alternative, helps maintain desired height and density.
Ornamental clovers resist most serious pests and diseases. However, they can be susceptible to ‘clover rot’ or other fungal problems, particularly in overly wet conditions. Proper drainage and air circulation mitigate these risks. If plants appear unhealthy, assessing watering and light exposure is often the first step, as these factors impact plant vigor. Prompt removal of heavily affected foliage helps prevent the spread of minor issues.