NativeSeed Group Inventory

Potentially long-lived nitrogen-fixing perennial legume with a significant taproot and purple flowers. Adapted to fertile, deep, well-drained soils. Intolerant of poor drainage, high water tables and acidic soils. The world’s most well-known and widely used perennial forage legume for pasture, hay, silage, green-chop and rangeland. Excellent forage yield, quality and palatability. Seed alone or in mixed grass pastures; establishes easily. High bloat potential; use caution when grazing. Also use for wildlife habitat for grazing ungulates, geese, grouse and other wild birds. Primarily pollinated by leafcutter bees and many types of native bees; honeybees are reluctant pollinators. Winter hardy, rhizomatous and multifoliate (MF) varieties available.

• Growing Region:  Midwest
• Blooms: 
• Life Form:  Legume

• Application Type:  Agricultural Conservation, Cover Crop
• Height:  1-3 ft

Widely adapted, drought tolerant native perennial with yellow and red flowers, blooming April to September. Found in a variety of well-drained soils in grasslands, shrublands, open woodlands and mountain meadows; up to 10,000 ft. elevation. Tolerant of mild acidic to mild alkaline conditions. Establishes quickly and able to grow into large colonies, especially on disturbed sites. Fire resistant, increasing after wildfire. Competitive with weeds. Attracts numerous pollinating bees and butterflies; extensive bloom period. Foliage and associated insects are a food source for sage-grouse and sharp-tail grouse. Use in restoration, erosion control or beautification.

• Growing Region:  Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Intermountain West, Midwest
• Blooms:  Summer, Fall
• Life Form:  Forb

• Application Type:  Habitat Restoration, Land Reclamation
• Height:  1-2 ft

Tall nitrogen-fixing perennial legume with hollow, succulent stems and pink-striped flowers. Large, deep branching taproot and fine lateral roots. Drought tolerant and winter-hardy. Low salt tolerance. Intolerant of high water tables and wet soils; long-lived on dryland when managed properly. Matures faster than Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), providing early spring forage. Quickly gaining popularity as a non-bloat forage alternative to alfalfa. Extremely palatable and highly nutritious; digestibility equal to alfalfa. Use for hay, pasture, rangeland or silage, alone or with grasses. Also use for wildlife habitat enhancement and food plots for elk, deer, pheasant and sage-grouse. Superior honey plant to alfalfa. Not invasive or weedy. 

• Growing Region:  Southwest
• Blooms:  Spring
• Life Form:  Forb

• Application Type:  Agricultural Conservation, Cover Crop
• Height:  1-4 ft

Introduced, hardy, long-lived perennial evergreen forb with dense pink to red petal-less flowers, blooming May to July; weakly rhizomatous. Cold tolerant and widely adapted, persisting on infertile well-drained soils with at least 12 in. annual precipitation; up to 9,000 ft. elevation. Excellent browse for livestock and wild ungulates until snow cover; also grazed by sage-grouse. Commonly used for pasture, rangeland, food plots, weed control, fuel breaks and green strips. Pollinated by bees

• Growing Region:  Intermountain West, Midwest, Pacific Northwest
• Blooms:  Spring
• Life Form:  Forb

• Application Type:  Agricultural Conservation, Cover Crop, Commercial Beautification
• Height:  1-2 ft