Ladino Clover Trifolium repens var. giganteum (2024)

Ladino clover are the tallest and largest leafed of the white clover family. While some might refer to this species as simply “white clover”, there are actually multiple types of white clovers, botanically divided up into three distinct, true breeding polymorphic forms based mainly on leaf size. These types are:

• Very small leaved, wild type (T. repens L. f. repens L.); also called weedy type or micro clovers.
• Small-to-medium leafed common type (T. repens f. hollandicum); also called intermediate or Dutch white.
• Large leaved, ladino type (T. repens var. giganteum); simple called Ladino.

The weedy wild types are not too commonly sold as seed, although some “micro clover” seeds may be of this type.

More familiar to most white clover users are the Dutch white and Ladino types. The key differences between these two have to do with height, stolon density and flower formation. These areas also help determine the best application for each.

Intermediate-type white clovers are lower growing, tiller more aggressively, and flower profusely from their stolons. These types are great for grazing, as they are more likely to spread, handle traffic stress, and naturally reseed better than their larger-leafed cousins.

Since all white clovers are of the same botanical family, each of these types can be crossed with each other. The most marketable results are varieties which merge the strengths of each type. For example, a grazing-type Ladino can be the result of crossing predominately large-leafed plants with medium-leafed plants that have higher stolon density. Similarly, Dutch white types are crossed with Ladino types to improve forage yield.

Coat for Optimal Performance

For optimal performance, ladino clover should be inoculated with Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii. This is best achieved with Nitro-Coat®.