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New Zealand White Dutch Clover is a 3 to 5 inch tall densely growing biannual clover with a white globe-like flowering top. This variety of clover is commonly used as a ‘living mulch’ that is grown between vegetable and flower rows or under tall plants. Clover has the ability to obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere and “fix” it underground onto nodules attached to its roots, making this a beneficial addition to heavy nitrogen feeding crops like corn, fruit trees and hardy perennials. This variety tolerates cold, heat and drought, foot or tractor traffic and poor soil, making it a good choice for trails and degraded pasture. Repeated mowing or grazing encourages the clover to produce additional shoots and biomass. It’s a highly palatable and digestible forage for livestock and wildlife grazing. The fibrous root system typically is in the top 6 inch of soil, although it does have up to a 24 inch tap root in the first year allowing water to percolate into the soil to improve structure and aid in nitrogen fixation.
NAME: Clover (Trifolium Repens)
VARIETY: New Zealand White Dutch
DAYS TO MATURITY: 65 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: biennial
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 2 – 10
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Partial Sun / Shade
SOIL: Average, well-draining soils with a pH 5.8 – 7.0
PLANT HEIGHT: 3 – 5 inches
SPACING: 0.5 inch – 2 inches
TEMP: 30 – 75 °F
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Starting New Zealand White Dutch Clover seeds indoors is not recommended. While it’s technically possible to start these seeds indoors, it’s generally not recommended due to the plant’s preference for direct sowing and its ability to establish easily outdoors.
If you still prefer to start seeds indoors, follow these steps:
Use biodegradable pots or trays to minimize root disturbance during transplanting. Fill the containers with a well-draining potting mix. Sow the seeds thinly on the surface of the soil and lightly press them in.
Keep the soil consistently moist and maintain a temperature of around 60-70°F (15-21°C) for optimal germination.
Place the containers in a location with plenty of sunlight or under grow lights.
Transplant the seedlings outdoors once they have developed several sets of true leaves, being careful not to disturb the roots.
Direct sow clover seed outdoors into prepared soil immediately after your last local spring frost.
Sprinkle seed around the areas you want the clover to grow.
The closer together the seeds are the smaller the plants will be but less ground will be left bare.
Lightly roll over the seeds with a tamper or lightly step on them so they press firmly into the soil, covering no more than 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep.
Water the seeds in generously and germination should occur in 7 to 20 days depending on environmental factors.
Plants will fully mature in 65 days.
Once New Zealand White Dutch Clover reaches maturity, it will stand up to heavy mowing, animal grazing and foot or tractor compaction.
Once the plants reach maturity, you can either cut them down to the base, letting the nitrogen attached to the root nodules release into the soil, let animals feed off the tops, or leave the flowers to go to seed for self-reseeding.
Before sowing, prepare your soil by removing any weeds or large debris such as large sticks and stones, ideally giving these seeds a completely bare and leveled soil patch to sow onto in an area that is full sun to partial shade.
Once New Zealand White Dutch Clover plants have established, they require minimal care.
Dense seed spacing is ideal for applications like ground cover, animal fodder or restoring degraded and bare soils.
Allow the flowers to go to seed for easy reseeding, or allow animals to graze on the tops!
Fantastic when used as a groundcover in soils lacking nitrogen due to its ability to obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere and “fix” it underground onto nodules attached to its roots.
New Zealand White Dutch Clover can be harvested for forage or hay production once it reaches a height of 12-18 inches.
Harvesting can be done using conventional mowing equipment.
For hay production, harvest when the clover is in early bloom for the best balance of yield and quality.
Allow the clover to dry thoroughly before baling or storing.
