Wildflowers Found in Oregon

Subterranean Clover (Sub Clover)

Trifolium subterraneum - The legume Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum), often shortened to sub clover, is a species of clover native to northwestern Europe, from Ireland east to Belgium. The plant's name comes from its underground seed development, a characteristic not possessed by other clovers. It can thrive in poor-quality soil where other clovers cannot survive, and is grown commercially for animal fodder. There are three distinct subspecies used in agriculture, each with its own ideal climate and soil type, allowing for wide distribution of the plant over varied environments. Sub clovers are used for forage and hay and have been used successfully in Oregon as fall-planted and relay interplanted cover crops in annual rotations. They are capable of accumulating substantial amounts of N, a portion of which is available to the following crop. Rapid growth suppresses weeds in spring.