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Ladino Clover (Trifolium repens)

Plant Species
From Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook *
 By S. Smoliak, R.L. Ditterline, J.D. Scheetz, L.K. Holzworth, J.R. Sims, L.E. Wiesner, D.E. Baldridge, and G.L. Tibke

Ladino clover is a giant form of white clover. It is a rapidly-growing perennial, which spreads with prostrate stolons. In the seedling year, ladino clover may produce stolons that are 12 to 15 inches long. Ladino clover supposedly originated in Lombardy Province of Italy, and was brought to the United States in 1891.

Ladino clover is seldom sown in pure stands because of the difficulty to harvest and cure as hay. It is usually sown in pasture mixtures at about 1 pound per acre to keep the ratio of clover to grass low and reduce the bloat hazard.

Ladino clover is only moderately hardy and has a shallow root system. It does best on heavy soils where moisture is readily available during the growing season. It does not do well on light-sandy soils, unless frequently irrigated. It will persist through natural reseeding and the rooting of young stolons. Growth is restricted by high summer temperatures.

* The Montana Interagency Plant Materials Handbook (EB69) is no longer in print, but is available for viewing in
Montana County Extension Service and National Resource Conservation Service Offices.