Clovers & Legumes ·Growing Guide
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Lotus corniculatus
Birdsfoot TrefoilClovers & LegumesLow (once established—the establishment phase is the challenge) Maintenance
The non-bloating legume with a 3-4 foot taproot. Birdsfoot Trefoil is the answer when you need a persistent, deep-rooted legume but can't grow alfalfa—whether due to wet soil, acidic conditions, poor drainage, or livestock bloat concerns. Its condensed tannin content prevents bloat in cattle and sheep (a common risk with clover and alf...
Shop Wicked Tuff Turf →Overview
About Birdsfoot Trefoil
Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) gets its name from its seed pod arrangement—3-5 pods radiating from a central point resemble a bird's foot. It's a true perennial (5-10+ years) with a deep taproot (3-4 feet) that fixes nitrogen, anchors slopes, and accesses deep moisture.
Birdsfoot Trefoil's unique advantage is its condensed tannin content. These tannins bind protein in the rumen, preventing the foam formation that causes bloat in cattle and sheep. This makes Trefoil the only common forage legume that's inherently bloat-safe for continuous grazing—no management adjustments needed.
The major limitation is establishment speed. Birdsfoot Trefoil is the slowest-establishing common forage legume, often requiring an entire growing season before producing meaningful forage. It's a poor competitor with weeds during establishment, which is why it's often seeded with a companion grass (like orchardgrass or timothy) that suppresses weeds while Trefoil slowly fills in.
Once established, Birdsfoot Trefoil is remarkably persistent. It self-seeds via dropped seed, maintains stands on poor soils for 5-10+ years, and tolerates conditions (low pH, poor drainage, infertile soil) that eliminate alfalfa and most clovers.
Birdsfoot Trefoil's unique advantage is its condensed tannin content. These tannins bind protein in the rumen, preventing the foam formation that causes bloat in cattle and sheep. This makes Trefoil the only common forage legume that's inherently bloat-safe for continuous grazing—no management adjustments needed.
The major limitation is establishment speed. Birdsfoot Trefoil is the slowest-establishing common forage legume, often requiring an entire growing season before producing meaningful forage. It's a poor competitor with weeds during establishment, which is why it's often seeded with a companion grass (like orchardgrass or timothy) that suppresses weeds while Trefoil slowly fills in.
Once established, Birdsfoot Trefoil is remarkably persistent. It self-seeds via dropped seed, maintains stands on poor soils for 5-10+ years, and tolerates conditions (low pH, poor drainage, infertile soil) that eliminate alfalfa and most clovers.
Fit
Where It Shines
Best for
- Bloat-safe livestock pasture (the only non-bloating forage legume)
- Slope stabilization (deep taproot anchors soil)
- Poor, acidic soils where alfalfa fails
- Wet or poorly drained sites
- Conservation plantings and CRP
- Pollinator habitat (yellow flowers May-September)
- Long-term low-maintenance stands
- Mixed pasture with orchardgrass or timothy
Not ideal for
- Situations requiring fast establishment (extremely slow)
- High-yield hay operations (lower yield than alfalfa)
- Weed-prone fields (poor competitor during establishment)
- Short-term cover cropping (needs years to reach full potential)
- Lawn or turf applications
- Impatient land managers
From Seed to Stand
Establishment & Growth
Germination
Days 7-14: First seedlings emerge. Days 14-21: Continued emergence. Birdsfoot Trefoil is notably slow to germinate and establish—one of the slowest legumes. Patience is essential. Seedlings are small with distinctive five-leaflet leaves.
Growth Habit
Perennial. Semi-prostrate to upright (12-24 inches). Deep taproot (3-4 feet). Does not spread via stolons but self-seeds from dropped seed. Indeterminate flowering (continues blooming throughout growing season).
Establishment Timeline
First emergence: 7-14 days. Slow establishment: 3-6 months for functional stand. Full production: year two. Stand life: 5-10+ years (very long-lived once established).
Rates & Care
Seeding & Maintenance
| Seeding rate (new) | 5-8 lbs per acre; 0.15-0.25 lbs per 1,000 sq ft |
|---|---|
| Overseeding rate | 4-6 lbs per acre |
| Soil temp to germinate | 50°F |
| Mowing height | Not typically mowed as turf; cut for hay at early bloom. For slopes, leave unmowed. |
| Minimum mow height | 3 inches (avoid cutting into crown) |
| First mow | At early bloom (12-18 inches) if harvesting |
| Soil pH | 5.5-7.5 (tolerates wider pH range than alfalfa—one of its key advantages) |
| Soil preference | Adaptable. Tolerates poor, acidic, wet, and droughty soils. Performs on challenging sites where alfalfa fails. Clay to sandy loam. |
| Nitrogen needs | None required—fixes 80-150 lbs N per acre annually. Deep taproot delivers nitrogen deep in the soil profile. |
Conditions
Tolerances
SunFull sun to light shade (5-8 hours)
ShadePoor to Moderate
DroughtGood (deep taproot provides drought access)
TrafficLow to Moderate
ColdGood to Excellent
HeatModerate
Hardiness Zones3-7
Step by Step
How to Sow
1
Step 1: Prep
Scarify and inoculate seed; prep clean bed
2
Step 2: Fertilize
Plant with companion grass (Orchard/Timothy)
3
Step 3: Sow
Broadcast or drill at 5-8 lbs per acre
4
Step 4: Contact
Plant 1/4" deep max; firm seedbed
5
Step 5: Water
Keep moist for 2-3 week germination
6
Step 6: Mow/Establish
No graze/harvest in year 1; full stand in 2-3 yrs
Feeding & Timing
Fertilizing & Season
Fertilizer Recommendation
No nitrogen needed. Phosphorus and potassium based on soil test. Birdsfoot Trefoil's tolerance for poor soils means minimal fertilizer is often sufficient. On very poor sites, a modest P application at planting helps establishment. Recommended: Wicked Growth P-K formula if soil test indicates need.
Find the right Wicked fertilizer →Seasonal Planting
Spring planting (April-May) strongly preferred—gives maximum establishment time before winter. Fall planting is risky due to slow establishment; seedlings may not survive winter if insufficient root development occurs. Frost seeding (February-March) has limited success due to small seed size and slow germination.
In Context
How It Compares
Birdsfoot Trefoil vs. Alfalfa: Trefoil tolerates poorer, wetter, more acidic soils and doesn't cause bloat; Alfalfa yields much more on good soils and establishes faster. Trefoil vs. Red Clover: Trefoil is longer-lived (5-10 years vs. 2-3) and bloat-safe; Red Clover establishes faster and yields more initially. Trefoil vs. White Clover: Trefoil has a deeper taproot and is bloat-safe; White Clover spreads via stolons and integrates into lawns. Empire Trefoil vs. Common Trefoil: Empire offers improved persistence and vigor, making it the preferred variety for slope stabilization.
Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is birdsfoot trefoil and what makes it different from clover?
Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is a perennial legume named for its seed pod arrangement resembling a bird's foot. Unlike clovers, birdsfoot trefoil contains condensed tannins that prevent bloat in ruminant livestock—making it the only common forage legume that is completely bloat-safe for cattle and sheep. It also tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than alfalfa, persists under close grazing, and provides nitrogen fixation of 80-150 lbs per acre annually.
Does birdsfoot trefoil cause bloat in cattle?
No. Birdsfoot trefoil is completely non-bloating due to its condensed tannin content, which prevents the foam formation in the rumen that causes bloat. This makes it the safest forage legume for cattle, sheep, and goats. Animals can graze pure birdsfoot trefoil stands without bloat risk—a significant advantage over alfalfa, red clover, white clover, and Ladino clover, all of which can cause bloat when grazed as dominant stands.
How long does birdsfoot trefoil take to establish?
Birdsfoot trefoil is notoriously slow to establish. Germination takes 7-14 days, but seedlings grow slowly for the first 60-90 days, often appearing to stall. First-year stands are typically thin and may look like failures. Full productivity is usually not reached until the second growing season. This slow establishment means birdsfoot trefoil requires patience and weed management during the seeding year—nurse crops like oats can help suppress weeds while trefoil establishes.
What soil conditions does birdsfoot trefoil tolerate?
Birdsfoot trefoil tolerates a wider range of soil conditions than alfalfa. It grows in pH 5.5-7.5 (more acid-tolerant than alfalfa), tolerates moderate drainage issues, and persists on shallow, infertile, and droughty soils. Its deep taproot (3-4 feet) provides drought access. Birdsfoot trefoil is an excellent choice for fields that are too acidic, too wet, or too infertile for alfalfa but where a persistent nitrogen-fixing legume is desired.
What is Empire birdsfoot trefoil?
Empire is an improved birdsfoot trefoil variety developed for better persistence, more upright growth, and higher forage yield compared to common birdsfoot trefoil. Empire offers improved seedling vigor (faster establishment than common types), better disease resistance, and more consistent performance across varied soil conditions. It is the most widely recommended variety for pasture, erosion control, and conservation plantings in the northeastern United States.
How much nitrogen does birdsfoot trefoil fix?
Birdsfoot trefoil fixes 80-150 lbs of nitrogen per acre annually, comparable to red clover. It requires inoculation with a specific Rhizobium strain (Mesorhizobium loti) that is different from clover and alfalfa inoculants. On slopes and erosion-control applications, this nitrogen fixation sustains vegetation on infertile soils without fertilizer access, making birdsfoot trefoil self-sustaining once established.
Can birdsfoot trefoil be used for erosion control on slopes?
Yes. Birdsfoot trefoil is excellent for slope stabilization and erosion control. Its deep taproot (3-4 feet) anchors soil, nitrogen fixation sustains growth without fertilizer on infertile slope soils, and its prostrate growth habit under grazing or mowing provides good ground cover. Empire birdsfoot trefoil is included in erosion-control seed mixes like the Wicked Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer at 8% of the blend for exactly these properties.
