Moon trefoil

Medicago arborea

Layer 3 · Shrubs
Nitrogen fixer

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Native to the Mediterranean basin, Medicago arborea is a fast-growing, woody evergreen shrub that reaches between one and four metres in height. In a food forest, it plays a key role as a biological nitrogen fixer in the soil and an abundant source of biomass through regular pruning. Its prolonged flowering attracts various pollinators, and its foliage serves as protein-rich forage for animals in the shrub layer.

It can be planted now — September is one of the best months.

See which trees moon trefoil grows well with

Pick the central tree on your land and see the full guild.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Low
Light: Full sun
Size: Hardy shrub up to 2 m
Mature diameter: 1.8 m
Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Atlantic coast, Hot, dry Mediterranean

Calendar

January
February — Planting
March — Harvest — Planting
April — Harvest
May — Harvest
June — Harvest
July
August
September — Planting
October — Planting
November — Planting
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Rich in nutrients, it is mainly used as high-protein forage.

Where to buy

Grows well with

Central trees this plant has already been paired with.

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.