Alfalfa

Medicago sativa

Fabaceae

Description

Photo taken by Calvin De Jong

Height 1-70 cm

Width 1-80 cm

Leaves 1-20 mm

Flowers 2-4 cm

Did you know the alfalfa plant is part of the pea & bean family ( Fabaceae ) amazing right, it is a sweet-smelling deep-rooted herbaceous perennial that likes to grow in open areas with adequet sun and moisture, it has such a need for water it can reach a depth of 15 m looking for groundwater. Alfalfa has also been used by humans as food and medicine since 490 BC giving this plant a long history of uses.

Distribution and habitat

Originally from Eurasia alfalfa can now be found growing throughout most of the world. It can tolerate poor soil conditions and be found growing in fields, meadows, open hillsides, and along roadways. One should have no trouble finding this widespread plant throughout the Okanagan.

Elevation 0-3000 m

Soil most soils

PH 6.5-7

Zones 1-6

Sun Full sun, partial shade

Uses & Benefits

Alfalfa can be used as medicine to help with many internal issues like kidney conditions, bladder and prostate conditions it can also help to increase urine flow. Some of the great benefits of alfalfa are lowering cholesterol, helping with blood sugar control may even help some women to alleviate menopause symptoms. With having such a deep root system it helps to improve soil nitrogen fertility and protect from erosion. The leaves can be eaten as a leafy vegetable, or ground into a powder and used as a vitamin suppplement.

Parts used:

All parts

One can also use alfalfa to:

Help blood clotting
Treat jaundice
Arthritis
Reduce Blood sugar
Increase energy
Bone strengthing
Kidney problems
Menopause symptoms

Ways to use alfalfa:

Tea
Powdered leaf
Sprouts

Calvin De Jong

Content Writer/Photographer

I am a naturalist from the Okanagan. My passions are taken photos of nature and foraging all its wonders.