Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

Fabaceae (Legume)

A deep-rooted perennial legume that mines subsoil minerals and fixes heavy nitrogen. Classic soil-improver.

Cover cropFixes nitrogenBuilds soilPerennial

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) illustration — Texas Roots plant database, by Jordan Polasek

Sun

Full sun

Water

Low — deep taproot

Soil

Deep, well-drained

pH

6.5–7.5

Hardiness

Perennial

Height

1–3 ft

Spacing

Broadcast

Days to harvest

Soil builder

What it is

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is in the Fabaceae (Legume) family. A deep-rooted perennial legume that mines subsoil minerals and fixes heavy nitrogen. Classic soil-improver.

How to grow it

It wants full sun, water it low — deep taproot, and give it deep, well-drained soil. Target a soil pH around 6.5–7.5. Space plants about Broadcast apart. Expect roughly Soil builder. Perennial.

How it's used

Alfalfa is used: cover/forage; sprouts edible.

🔎 How to identify it

Three small leaflets
Purple flower clusters
Very deep taproot

Edibility

PartsSprouts; forage

UsesCover/forage; sprouts edible

CautionMainly a soil and forage crop.

🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.

Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.