Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Friday - July 18, 2008
From: Rico, CO
Region: Rocky Mountain
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Control of white clover (Trifolium repens)
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
our yard was remediated by ARCO in Rico Colorado. they brought in soil that must have been from clover fields. the soil produces tense low growing and fast growing clover with white flowers. it is invasive and is destroying our wildflowers that are natural. how does one get rid of this and allow the wildflwers that are native to flourish? in one year it has taken over large areas that used to be native. thank you. kimANSWER:
This sounds like Trifolium repens (white clover), a native of Europe. It is considered a weed plant in many parts of North America. However, it's still recommended as a pasture plant in association with grasses, even though it can cause gastric distress in livestock if eaten in large quantities. It has its good points, nevertheless, in that it fixes nitrogen from the atmosphere and enriches the soil for other plants when it dies.You can read the Clover Management Guidelines from University of California Davis and learn that the best means of controlling it is by hand-pulling or hoeing it. I know this doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but there are no herbicides that will kill only the clover and not your wildflowers. Soil solarization, which is an effective way to kill grasses and other weeds, is apparently not very effective for clover since it doesn't kill seeds as well as the plants—white clover has a hard seed coat that is resistant to high temperatures. Heavy mulching in flower beds can keep the population of clover under control; but if you are dealing with a meadow-like yard, this isn't going to be a practical way to approach the problem. If you add native grasses to your wildflower mix, they can help in outcompeting the clover by growing tall and shading the clover plants. Please read our article, Meadow Gardening, for more information.
More Invasive Plants Questions
Problems with pink oxalis in Austin
April 12, 2010 - I have a bed of pink oxalis. The leaves are turning rusty and withering. It is spreading. Can you tell me how to remedy this?
view the full question and answer
Prairie remnant threatened by non-native Queen Anne's lace in Dallas
June 09, 2010 - A blackland prairie remnant is being invaded by Queen Ann's Lace. What are the best, least chemical, methods of getting rid of it without damaging the native grasses and wildflowers?
Thank you!
view the full question and answer
Ridding property of Dichelostemma Firecracker Plant from Cleburne TX
April 11, 2012 - How do we get rid of Dichelostemma-Firecracker plant? It has invaded our yard & we hate it! How do we kill it?
view the full question and answer
Plants for under pine trees in Colorado Springs CO
April 23, 2011 - What can I plant under pine trees in Colorado that will grow every year? Would like ground cover; tried bishop weed.
view the full question and answer
Planting time for non-natives in Irving TX
February 07, 2012 - Have dwarf nandinas and two lorapetalums that I want to transplant. Can I do it now February 6th 2012?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |