Seasonal Wild Flowers

Lucerne

Medicago sativa subsp. Sativa

Fabaceae

Alfalfa

End of May to October

It is found throughout the country but is absent from parts of

the North and the far Southwest..

See the BSBI distribution map for Lucerne

It was grown as a green manure crop from the 1600s to the

1950s and has been a naturalised escape since the early 1800s.

It is found in rough grassland, waste land, the edges of fields

and alongside tracks and paths.

It is planted by cycle tracks and footpaths in wildflower seed

mixtures.

Lucerne is a persistent, nitrogen-fixing, perennial herb growing

up to 90cm.

The flowers (up to 12mm across) are in colourful flowerheads

ranging from purple to lilac-white.

The seed pods are like twisted wheels in shape.

Leaves are trefoil.

Lucerne is deep-rooted, which contributes to its persistence.

Its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen is the main reason for its

use as a green manure crop.

Lucerne flowerhead

Close-up of flowers

Seed pods

Trefoil leaves

Purple flowerhead

White-lilac flowerhead