Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

perennial☀️ full sun💧💧 moderate waterZone 2b – Zone 9b

Alfalfa is a nitrogen-fixing legume prized as livestock forage and for improving soil health in agricultural settings. It produces small purple, pink, or yellow flowers and deep taproots that help break up compacted soil.

Overview

Form: Upright
Growth Rate: fast
Size: 1.5–2′ tall × 1–2′ wide
Dormancy: deciduous

Tolerances & Soil

Drought Tolerance

high

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 2b

Zone 9b

pH Range

6.2

8.5

Soil Texture

Medium, Fine

Seasonality

Bloom Season

Harvest Season

Season of Interest

SpringSummer

Forest Layer Placement

Herb

Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.

Succession Role

pioneerearly successional

Native Range

Mediterranean

Function & Care

Functional Roles

biomass/mulchdynamic accumulatorerosion controlnitrogen fixerpollinator nectarywildlife benefit

Nitrogen Fixer · High

Edible Parts

leafseedshoot

Establishment & Care

Establishment: easy
Maintenance: low
Years to Bearing: 1 years
Propagation: seed

Companion Planting

Plants well with

tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Traditional

Alfalfa fixes nitrogen and its deep roots break up soil, improving tomato root environment and nutrient availability.

eastern redbud

Cercis canadensis

Anecdotal

Eastern redbud provides dappled shade that can moderate temperature extremes for alfalfa in hot climates while both are nitrogen-fixers.