Clover (white) Food Plot Guide
A perennial favorite that provides year-round forage and thrives under heavy deer browse.
Seed Rate
8
lbs/acre
Fertilizer
200
lbs/acre (0-20-20)
Depth
Surface broadcast or no deeper than ¼ inch
Products
8
available
Overview
White clover is the single most popular food plot crop in North America, and for good reason. This perennial legume establishes quickly, fixes its own nitrogen, tolerates heavy deer browsing pressure, and can last three to five years before needing to be replanted. Once established, a white clover plot becomes a year-round deer magnet — providing high-protein forage from early spring green-up through late fall. Varieties like Durana, Imperial Whitetail Clover, and Ladino are bred specifically for grazing tolerance, making them ideal for food plots where deer pressure is intense.
New to food plots? Read our beginner's guide for step-by-step planting instructions, or use the Clover (white) seed calculator to plan your plot.
Why Deer Love Clover (white)
White clover is one of the most protein-rich forages available to whitetails, running 20-30% crude protein depending on growth stage. Deer will browse clover plots consistently from spring through fall, and does with fawns are especially drawn to the high nutritional value during summer lactation. Bucks rely on clover protein during the critical antler-growing months of May through August.
Soil & Growing Conditions
Best Soil Types
Well-drained loam, clay-loam, or silt-loam soils. Tolerates moderate clay content. Avoid pure sand or poorly drained sites.
Soil pH Range
6.0–7.0 (ideal 6.5). Lime generously if below 6.0 — clover is sensitive to acidic soil.
Planting Depth
Surface broadcast or no deeper than ¼ inch. Clover seed is tiny and won't emerge from deep planting.
Check our planting calendar for the best planting window in your state.
Planting Tips
- 1
Lime 60-90 days before planting if pH is below 6.0 — this is the number one factor in clover success.
- 2
Broadcast seed onto a firm, smooth seedbed and cultipack or drive over it to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
- 3
Can be frost-seeded in late winter by broadcasting over existing plots — freeze/thaw cycles work the seed into the ground.
- 4
Mow established plots to 6-8 inches 2-3 times per growing season to keep clover vigorous and prevent weeds.
- 5
Inoculate seed with the correct rhizobium bacteria if planting in new ground that hasn't grown clover before.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Planting too deep — clover seed needs light to germinate and will die if buried more than ¼ inch.
Skipping the lime — clover in acidic soil (below 5.8) will look thin, yellow, and eventually die out.
Not mowing — unmowed clover gets overtaken by grasses and weeds within two seasons.
Using the wrong variety — pasture clover varieties don't tolerate deer browse as well as food-plot-specific varieties.
Recommended Clover (white) Seed Products
Deer Creek Seed
Dutch White Clover (Pre-inoculated & Coated)
Dutch white clover is a very short, white, flowering clover commonly found in lawns and wooded areas. It reaches 4-8 inches tall at its mature height. It prefers cool, moist and shaded locations, but also grows well in full sun locations. 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.
Find Best Price ↗Domain Outdoor
Clutch Clover™ Food Plot Seed
A unique combination of three special varieties of annual clover designed to establish quickly and provide a rapid protein source to handle browse pressure while building biomass. Can be planted on its own, mixed with long lasting perennials, or combined with brassicas. Ideal till down option for plot rotations as it fixates nitrogen.
Find Best Price ↗Deer Creek Seed
Klondike White Clover
Klondike White Clover is a medium to large-leaved variety known for its erect growth habit, making it an excellent companion for taller-growing grasses in mixtures. This variety competes effectively with early-starting grasses, providing rapid spring growth, faster than most other white clover varieties. Klondike's fast regrowth ensures a balanced, consistent production throughout the summer months, maintaining optimal performance in grass/clover mixtures. Klondike excels in its winter hardiness, proving its ability to withstand harsh winter conditions.
Find Best Price ↗BioLogic
BioLogic Non-Typical Clover Food Plot Seed
Fast-establishing and aggressive large-leaf white clover with superior cold tolerance and proven palatability. Extremely durable and browse tolerant with a 3-5 year lifespan. Extensively tested for durability, nutrition, and attraction with quick stand establishment, aggressive stolon growth, heavy forage output, and long-term stand persistence.
Find Best Price ↗Deer Creek Seed
Ladino White Clover (Pre-inoculated & Coated)
Ladino white clover is a tall, white flowering clover that is one of the most widely planted pasture legumes in the United States. Highly palatable and very nutritious forage for all classes of livestock. Best planted with forage grasses such as orchardgrass, tall fescue, or perennial ryegrass. Also a major component of many deer and wildlife food plot mixtures. Seed has a protective coating and comes pre-inoculated with rhizobacteria.
Find Best Price ↗Deer Creek Seed
Alsike White Clover (Pre-inoculated & Coated)
Alsike white clover is a perennial clover that tolerates wet and acidic soils much better than alfalfa and slightly better than red clover. Commonly used for hay, pasture, and soil improvement. Honey bees and other pollinator species are especially attracted to its white flowers. Pre-inoculated with rhizobacteria and protectively coated.
Find Best Price ↗Mossy Oak BioLogic
Frost Seeding Bundle (Non-Typical Clover + Hand Seeder)
Bundle includes 1/4 acre bag of BioLogic Non-Typical Clover and a BioLogic Gamekeeper Hand Seeder. Non-Typical Clover is a fast establishing, aggressive large leaf white clover with superior cold tolerance, proven palatability, and a 3-5 year lifespan. Ideal for frost seeding in spring.
Find Best Price ↗Domain Outdoor
Domain Pounder - Ladino Clover Food Plot Seed
Ladino White Clover is a long lasting, highly palatable, and protein rich perennial clover that deer crave year round. Develops an expansive root system for strong drought tolerance and long term longevity. With one planting and proper maintenance, your Ladino White Clover can last up to five years while continuing to provide excellent nutrition and forage for deer and turkey.
Find Best Price ↗Best Paired With
These crops complement clover (white) in a food plot rotation or mix:
Frequently Asked Questions
What soil type is best for clover (white) food plots?▾
Well-drained loam, clay-loam, or silt-loam soils. Tolerates moderate clay content. Avoid pure sand or poorly drained sites. Ideal soil pH: 6.0–7.0 (ideal 6.5). Lime generously if below 6.0 — clover is sensitive to acidic soil..
How deep should you plant clover (white) seed?▾
Surface broadcast or no deeper than ¼ inch. Clover seed is tiny and won't emerge from deep planting.
How much clover (white) seed do you need per acre?▾
The recommended seeding rate for clover (white) is 8 lbs per acre. Apply 200 lbs/acre of 0-20-20 fertilizer.
Why do deer like clover (white)?▾
White clover is one of the most protein-rich forages available to whitetails, running 20-30% crude protein depending on growth stage. Deer will browse clover plots consistently from spring through fall, and does with fawns are especially drawn to the high nutritional value during summer lactation. Bucks rely on clover protein during the critical antler-growing months of May through August.
What are common mistakes when planting clover (white) food plots?▾
Planting too deep — clover seed needs light to germinate and will die if buried more than ¼ inch. Skipping the lime — clover in acidic soil (below 5.8) will look thin, yellow, and eventually die out. Not mowing — unmowed clover gets overtaken by grasses and weeds within two seasons. Using the wrong variety — pasture clover varieties don't tolerate deer browse as well as food-plot-specific varieties.
What crops grow well with clover (white) in a food plot?▾
Clover (white) pairs well with chicory, annual ryegrass, oats in a food plot rotation or mix.
Map Your Clover (white) Plot
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