Alfalfa
ExplorePlants
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Alfalfa is a special plant that farmers grow to feed animals like cows and horses. It has tiny purple flowers and helps enrich the soil where it grows.
Habitat: Farms, Grasslands
Appearance
The Alfalfa has slender, upright stems with trifoliate leaves, meaning each leaf stalk carries three oval leaflets. Its small, pea-like flowers are typically vibrant purple or blue, growing in dense, short clusters at the stem tips, resembling miniature grape clusters.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusMedicago
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Alfalfa flowers are tiny, but they attract many busy bees and butterflies!
Ancient Greeks and Romans fed alfalfa to their horses for strength.
It's a cousin to peas and beans, all part of the special legume plant family.
Its name 'Alfalfa' comes from Arabic, meaning 'father of all foods'!
Special abilities
Ability
Soil Power-Up
Alfalfa can pull nitrogen from the air and store it in the soil, acting like a natural fertilizer for other plants!
Ability
Water Wizard
Alfalfa has incredibly deep roots that can reach water far underground, helping it survive long dry spells.
Ability
Cut & Come Again
Alfalfa can quickly regrow after being cut, allowing farmers to harvest it multiple times throughout the year.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-90 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to fall
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
Bees gather nectar and pollen from its flowers.
eaten by
Cattle
Bos taurus
Cattle eat alfalfa as a highly nutritious forage.
symbiotic with
Rhizobium bacteria
Ensifer meliloti
Bacteria in its roots fix nitrogen from the air.
eaten by
Sheep
Ovis aries
Sheep often graze on alfalfa in pastures.
Traits
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Agricultural
This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Rapid Growing
Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
Also known as
Lucerne
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you see alfalfa in the wild, it's best not to eat it unless an adult says it's safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Alfalfa?
30-90 cm
How wide does Alfalfa spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Alfalfa?
0.5-1 cm
When does Alfalfa bloom?
Spring to fall
Is Alfalfa edible?
Yes
Is Alfalfa toxic?
None
What is Alfalfa's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Alfalfa pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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Where to spot
Park21 sightings10 species
Utah, US
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Park30 sightings9 species
British Columbia, CA
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Park40 sightings6 species
South Dakota, US
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
You might spot Least Chipmunk and Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine.
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Park31 sightings5 species
South Dakota, US
Dinosaur Park
You might spot Scarlet Globemallow, Leadplant, and Yellow Salsify.
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Park20 sightings4 species
British Columbia, CA
Stemwinder Provincial Park
You might spot Field Locoweed, Silky Lupine, and Wax Currant.
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