Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
- Native to:
- Algeria, France, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Labrador, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
Amédée Masclef (en.wikipedia.org)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Medicago
- Species:
- Medicago sativa
- USDA Symbol:
- MESA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, blue, yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★★★★ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★★ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Achyra similalis, Agrotis orthogonia, Agrotis venerabilis, Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), Allen's Aphelia (Aphelia alleniana), American Swordgrass Moth (Xylena nupera), American wainscot (Hydraecia immanis), Army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris), Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Atlantic arches (Lacanobia atlantica), bean shoot borer (Eucosma aporema), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), Beet Webworm (Loxostege sticticalis), Bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata), Cacao moth (Ephestia elutella), Celery leaftier (Udea rubigalis), Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera), Common Looper Moth (Autographa precationis), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Dargida procinctus, Dichomeris acuminatus, Double-Striped Prominent (Caenurgina crassiuscula), Euxoa divergens, Euxoa inconcinna, Euxoa infausta, Euxoa laetificans, Euxoa ochrogaster, Euxoa ridingsiana, Euxoa tristicula, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Forage Looper (Caenurgina erechtea), fruit-tree leafroller (Archips argyrospila), garden webworm moth (Achyra rantalis), glassy cutworm (Apamea devastator), Gothic dart (Feltia subgothica), Grammia blakei, Grammia figurata, Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra), Hickory Tussock Moth (Anacamptodes humaria), Hitched Arch (Melanchra adjuncta), kidney-spotted minor (Lacinipolia renigera), Lacinipolia lorea, Lacinipolia lustralis, Lacinipolia vicina, lesser cornstalk borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus), Lobed Looper Moth (Megalographa biloba), Loxostege commixtalis, Lucerne Moth (Nomophila nearctica), Mamestra curialis, nutmeg (Discestra trifolii), Old Man Dart (Agrotis vetusta), Omnivorous Leafroller (Platynota stultana), one-lined sparganothis moth (Sparganothis unifasciana), Painted Tiger Moth (Arachnis picta), Pale-banded Dart (Agnorisma badinodis), Platynota nigrocervina, Protorthodes incincta, Southern beet webworm moth (Herpetogramma bipunctalis), Soybean Looper (Pseudoplusia includens), sparganothis fruitworm moth (Sparganothis sulfureana), Spotted Straw Moth (Heliothis phloxiphaga), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), strict lacinipolia (Lacinipolia stricta), Tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens), Trichordestra lilacina, Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodoptera praefica), Xenotemna pallorana, Yellow-striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli), zebra caterpillar moth (Melanchra picta), 🛑California dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice), California tortoiseshell (Nymphalis californica), Ceraunus Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis), Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), Melissa Blue (Lycaeides melissa), Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Queen Alexandra's Sulphur (Colias alexandra), Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Confusing bumble (Bombus perplexus), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Hunt's bumble bee (Bombus huntii), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), 🛑Rusty-patched bumble (Bombus affinis), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus) Moths:Lucerne Moth (Nomophila nearctica) Butterflies:Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Common Checkered-skipper (Burnsius communis), Funereal Duskywing (Erynnis funeralis), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Small White (Pieris rapae), Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in calcareous soils; sensitive to waterlogging
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; optimal soil temperature 15-25°C.
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.
Where to Buy
Nationwide Seller
- Vermont Wildflower Farm (nursery and seeds)