Pollinator plant

Black Medick

Medicago lupulina

Linked agroforestry plant data
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Common names

45 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
+6 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (31)
Dutch
French
Arabic
  • فصة سوداء[3]
Belarusian
  • Люцэрна хмелепадобная[3]
Catalan
  • Melgó menut[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 天蓝苜蓿[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 天藍苜蓿[3]
Czech
  • tolice dětelová[3]
Danish
  • Humle-sneglebælg[3]
Estonian
  • humallutsern[3]
Finnish
  • nurmimailanen[3]
German
Hebrew
  • אספסת זעירה[3]
Hungarian
  • Komlós lucerna[3]
Irish
  • Dúmheidic[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • コメツブウマゴヤシ[3]
Korean
  • 잔개자리[3]
Latvian
  • Apiņu lucerna[3]
Lithuanian
  • Apyninė liucerna[3]
Norwegian
  • sneglebelg[3]
  • snegleskolm[3]
Polish
  • Lucerna nerkowata[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Люцерна хмелевидная[3]
Slovak
  • lucerna ďatelinová[3]
Slovenian
  • Hmeljna meteljka[3]
Spanish
Swedish
  • humlelucern[3]
  • humlelusern[3]
Turkish
  • Bitçikotu[3]
Ukrainian
  • Люцерна хмелевидна[3]
Welsh
Sources & name notes (3)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Medicago lupulina — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Black Medick — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Medicago lupulina.
  • Black Clover — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Medicago lupulina.
  • Black Nonesuch — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Medicago lupulina.
  • Hop Clover — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Medicago lupulina.
  • Trefoil — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(5); heading: Common Name(s):; Medicago lupulina.
  • Yellow Trefoil — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(6); heading: Common Name(s):; Medicago lupulina.
[2] Medicago lupulina — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Black Medick — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Hopklaver — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • luzerne lupuline — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Hopfenklee — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Black Medic — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Nonesuch — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Shamrock — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Yellow Trefoil — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Alfalfa Lupulina — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • carretilla — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Lupulina — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Erba medica lupulina — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • luzerna-lupulina — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • luzerna-preta — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
[3] Medicago lupulina — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Black Medick — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Hopklaver — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • luzerne lupuline — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Hopfenklee — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Black Medic — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Nonesuch — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Shamrock — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Yellow Trefoil — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Alfalfa Lupulina — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • carretilla — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Lupulina — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Erba medica lupulina — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • luzerna-lupulina — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • luzerna-preta — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • humlelucern — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • nurmimailanen — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Lucerna nerkowata — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • tolice dětelová — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • אספסת זעירה — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • 天藍苜蓿 — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Humle-sneglebælg — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Люцерна хмелевидная — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • sneglebelg — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Komlós lucerna — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Apyninė liucerna — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • コメツブウマゴヤシ — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • فصة سوداء — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • lucerna ďatelinová — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • humlelusern — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • 天蓝苜蓿 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • humallutsern — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • snegleskolm — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • 잔개자리 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Люцерна хмелевидна — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Люцэрна хмелепадобная — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Hmeljna meteljka — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Apiņu lucerna — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Dúmheidic — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Melgó menut — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Maglys du — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
  • Bitçikotu — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 57056; Medicago lupulina.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Medicago lupulina is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Fabaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Plant habit
Prostrate; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Annual; Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Macronesia, Europe, Asia

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Medium suitability
Nectar value Medium
Pollen value Medium
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Herbaceous
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.50 m high × 0.00 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
4-8
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Seed
Functions
Nitrogen fixer, Pollinator plant
Edibility
2 out of 5
Medicinal value
1 out of 5

Leaves: cooked. Cooked leaves have a similar texture to leafy greens when eaten. Seeds: cooked. The seeds are dried and can be eaten directly or ground into powder. It is believed that the seeds contain trypsin inhibitors.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Medicago lupulina — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): Fabaceae. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 611453; ID 3YNM2; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 611453; ID 3YNM2; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Medicago lupulina — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Plant habitLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .