Annual clovers are mainly used to increase the legume content of a pasture. They offer huge benefits for hay and silage production because of their ability to grow quickly in spring when paddocks are locked up.

Some varieties are hard seeded and can tolerate water logging in saline medium to heavy soils.  Other varieties need well-drained soils and can offer some regrowth when cut, but are soft seeded giving little regeneration the next year.

There are some new varieties coming onto the market that offer great advantages over the older varieties in certain areas. Recent research by the Department of Agriculture in both Victoria and NSW has found that annual clovers can provide enormous benefits when sown in rotation with cereal crops.  They have the potential to increase crop yields and grain protein.

Annual clovers will provide an alternative to traditional legume crops such as faba beans and lupins with added advantages. The following varieties are listed under either hard seeded or soft seeded categories.