trefle.io · Taken May 15, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)
Fabaceae
California lucerne
Melilotus indicus
Also known as Medicago, Spotted medick, California milkvetch, Melilotus robinii
Native Plants · Clover · Wildflower · Pollinator · Green Manure · Medicinal · Annual · Nitrogen Fixing · Forage · Roadside · Low Maintenance
California lucerne is a hardy clover-relative that adapts to a wide range of soils and light conditions, from full sun to partial shade. It is commonly found in disturbed areas and roadsides and requires very little care once established. This plant is valued as a green manure and pollinator forage plant but should be monitored as it can self-seed prolifically.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately; plant tolerates dry spells once established · Every 10-14 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7
- Temperature
- -20°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 3a-11b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 10 ft
- Spread
- 3 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Deep
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Afghanistan, Alabama, Albania, Algeria, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Assam, Austria, Azores, Bahamas, Baleares, Baltic States, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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