Does Clover Grow In The Shade?

Grass lawns aren't for everyone. Though they can be a soft place to play, traditional grass lawns can often be difficult to care for and require a lot of work. That's why many people have gravitated to creating a low-maintenance lawn with a stunning grass alternative –- clover. It looks nice and is still soft for children and pets to play on. Unfortunately, it's not a choice that works for every lawn. Though this plant can handle shade better than grass, it will grow more slowly, and in dense shade, it may not grow at all. So if part of your yard is completely shaded by trees, fences, or buildings, clover may not be the best groundcover for that area. If, however, there's sunlight for at least some of the day, clover can still work.

When it comes to your lawn, there are three species of clover that are most commonly used. These are white Dutch clover (Trifolium repens), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and strawberry clover (Trifolium fragiferum). Unfortunately, all three prefer full sun, or six or more hours of sunlight per day, but they can tolerate partial shade as well. For example, white Dutch clover can grow with as little as two hours of light daily, though it will grow at a slower rate and require more moisture. Strawberry clover is a bit less shade-tolerant in comparison, but both strawberry and red clover can still manage to grow in partial sun. Of course, while those are the three most common species of clover to plant in your yard, they're not the only options.

If you have a partially shaded space to fill, white clover and red clover are two of your safest bets. Keep in mind that white clover doesn't handle heavy traffic and may not be ideal for lawns with pets or people who enjoy being outside a lot. It is a good option to include in the best kind of grass seed mix for a bee-friendly lawn and garden, though, since its flowers are enjoyed by pollinators. White clover is hardy in zone 4 and up. Red clover is another popular option because, in addition to tolerating partial shade, it can help stabilize soil, suppress weeds, and tolerate some foot traffic, and it's hardy in zones 3 to 9.

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) is another option that is less common, but more able to thrive in partial shade than most clovers. It likes well-draining soil and helps to control erosion. It enjoys locations with a bit of heat, zone 7 and warmer, and it needs mowing or grazing to thrive. Lastly, consider Durana clover, a cultivar of white clover that was specifically developed by researchers to be adaptable and low-maintenance. It can grow in as little as three hours of sunlight per day.

When planting clover in partial shade, consider doubling your seeding rates to account for the slower growth rate. And if the area in question receives less than two hours of sunlight, skip planting clover in favor of another ground cover.

While you can make clover work in partial shade, there aren't any clover species able to handle going without sunlight for most of the day. Thankfully, there are still lots of plants that act as ground covers that thrive in the shade and add beauty to a garden. For example, in shady and moist areas, a moss lawn is a low-maintenance choice. It offers a bright, fresh greenness and a soft place to play.

There is also Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvania). Like clover, it is hardy up to zone 3. This plant enjoys growing in the shade. If you want flora that can handle every part of your yard, from the sunny patches to the shady ones, consider blue sedge (Carex flacca). It's hardy to zone 5, but tolerates sun, partial shade, and full shade. That's just a couple of examples. There are plenty of others, including dwarf Solomon's seal, goldenstar, and Allegheny spurge. Whether you live somewhere damp, dry, hot, or cold, you can find a plant that works for ground cover outside of the clover or grass yard and tolerates shade. 

You aren't required to stick to greenery, either. If you want a mostly clover lawn, but you have a few areas that don't get enough light, play around with your yard's design. Use this groundcover in the sunny spots, and then transform the shady parts into something different. For example, consider hardscaping. You could also use heavily shaded areas for hardscaping or structures, such as a shed, rather than trying to establish a living groundcover.