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Alfalfa

Alfalfa (*Medicago sativa*) is a perennial leguminous plant in the pea family (Fabaceae) that is widely grown as a forage crop.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Alfalfa (*Medicago sativa* L.) is a perennial leguminous plant in the pea family (Fabaceae) that is widely grown as a forage crop. It is used mainly for hay, pasture, and silage, and is valued for its high nutritional quality and deep root system. The plant is also known as lucerne in many English-speaking regions.

Description

Alfalfa is a flowering perennial plant with trifoliate leaves, racemes of small flowers, and spirally coiled seed pods. It typically grows in bunches or clumps and is known for its deep taproot and long-lived growth habit.

Uses

The crop is mainly used as feed for cattle, horses, and other livestock, either as hay, grazed pasture, or silage. It is also used in some regions as green manure and for soil improvement.

Distribution and history

Alfalfa likely originated in south-central Asia or Asia Minor and was later spread through North Africa, southern Europe, Spain, and the Americas. It is now cultivated in many temperate and subtropical regions worldwide.

Agricultural significance

Alfalfa is valued for high forage quality, including protein content and digestible energy, and for its contribution to soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. It is also used in erosion control and wildlife cover in some conservation settings.

Key facts

  • Alfalfa is a perennial herbaceous legume in the pea family.
  • It is grown worldwide as livestock forage, especially for hay and silage.
  • The plant is deep-rooted and can tolerate drought better than many crops.
  • Alfalfa improves soil by fixing nitrogen, a trait common to legumes.
  • It is also known as lucerne in many English-speaking regions.
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Canadian context

Alfalfa is grown in Canada as an important forage crop for livestock, and it can also be considered a competitive escaped plant in some areas.

Frequently asked questions

What is alfalfa?
Alfalfa is a perennial legume, *Medicago sativa*, grown mainly as a forage crop for livestock.
Is alfalfa the same as lucerne?
Yes. Lucerne is another common name for alfalfa.
What is alfalfa used for?
It is mainly used for hay, pasture, and silage, and sometimes as green manure or a soil-improving crop.
Where does alfalfa come from?
It is generally considered native to south-central Asia or Asia Minor.
Why is alfalfa important in agriculture?
It produces high-quality forage and helps enrich soil by fixing nitrogen.

References

  1. USDA NRCS — https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/factsheet/pdf/fs_mesa.pdf
    Supports: Scientific name, perennial legume status, and forage-crop identification.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/alfalfa
    Supports: Definition as a perennial cloverlike leguminous plant and primary use as hay, pasture, and silage.
  3. UMass Amherst — https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/fact-sheets/alfalfa
    Supports: Origin in Asia Minor, Arabic name meaning, and historical spread.
  4. University of Maine Extension — https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2245e/
    Supports: Morphology, plant habit, flowers, seed pods, lifespan, and yield information.
  5. USDA NRCS — https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/Alfalfa.pdf
    Supports: Deep-rooted perennial legume, forage importance, soil improvement, erosion control, and wildlife cover.
  6. Budburst — https://budburst.org/plants/8
    Supports: Native/introduced status and occurrence as an escaped, weedy plant in parts of the US and Canada.