What is Alfalfa?

Alfalfa is native to Asia and is one of the most important and common hay crops in the world. A long-lived perennial legume, fresh, pure alfalfa stands from one to three feet tall and produces clusters of small purple flowers. It prefers deep, well-drained soils and is found throughout the entire United States.

In addition, alfalfa grass yields healthy amounts of plant matter that can be harvested several times a season, which is why it is invaluable in hay production and is widely grown and used among farms and pasture lands. Alfalfa can also be partnered with grass species such as meadow fescue and orchardgrass for pasture grazing, although it should be a small percentage of the overall forage mix content to avoid bloating.

 

What Are The Uses of Alfalfa?

Though we provide a brief list of its uses above, here is a more detailed description of the many uses of alfalfa for livestock and agriculture:

Hay Production – As mentioned earlier, alfalfa hay is considered ideal for farmers, as its persistent growth cycle throughout the year can allow for great volumes of hay to be produced. Alfalfa hay is also known as high-protein feed, ensuring the livestock it feeds grows healthy and strong.

Livestock Grazing – During more verdant times of the year, alfalfa is also great for animals such as cows and lambs to graze and consume directly.

Silage – Alfalfa can also be stored in a silo for lengthy amounts of time, providing high-quality feed for times of year when there are no grasses or other plants for animals to graze.

Green Manure – For those looking to help sustain their lawns or pastures better, alfalfa can also be used as a great fertilizer while it is still green, providing additional nitrogen to the soil.

Ground Cover – In some cases, alfalfa can also be used as feed or fertilizer and as protection from soil erosion, weeds, diseases, and more.

Those are just some ways alfalfa seeds are used to benefit your farm, pasture, or other landscape. There are many incredible advantages to growing it as a crop on your property.

 

What Are The Benefits of Having Alfalfa Fields?

In addition to its varied uses, planting alfalfa seeding provides several benefits that make it more distinct and ideal to include as part of your forage mix. Here are a few perks of alfalfa seed to consider:

Alfalfa Increases soil nitrogen

As it is a legume, alfalfa plants have the ability to fix available nitrogen from the atmosphere, absorbing it from the air and back into the soil, enhancing plant growth for subsequent crops you may be planting in the same field later on.

Alfalfa is the highest-yielding forage plant

As mentioned before, alfalfa seed also provides a high yield for a sizable time of the year, giving it the highest feeding value among other legume and grass species.

Alfalfa Helps prevent soil erosion

Alfalfa plants each grow an incredibly deep root system, making it somewhat drought-tolerant, loosening compacted soil for better water infiltration and structure, and reducing soil erosion.

Alfalfa Provides high-quality forage and animal feed

Alfalfa grass can also be excellent feed and forage for livestock such as sheep and cattle. It provides them with a healthy, abundant food source with a high protein content and remains fresh for long periods, even when stored in a silo.

Alfalfa Manages the insect population

Planting alfalfa also helps protect every acre of pasture or farmland from harmful pests, as it attracts all kinds of other more beneficial insects, such as bees and other pollinators, as well as birds, which will hunt down any pests looking to eat your other crops.

These benefits and more help to prove that alfalfa may be the best legume in the world to plant in your pasture or grazing area. For premium quality Alfalfa seed and other legumes, order from Nature’s Seed today!

Our TWCA Water-Wise Shade Turf Mix is a specialized, low-water turfgrass blend developed for shaded lawns and landscapes where traditional grass struggles to thrive. Certified by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance (TWCA), this mix uses 30–50% less water than standard turf blends while maintaining density, color, and vigor under low-light conditions.

Formulated with elite, shade-tolerant varieties—including ‘Lifeguard’ Tall Fescue, ‘Bighorn GT’ Hard Fescue, ‘Enchantment’ Chewings Fescue, and ‘Moonlight SLT’ Kentucky Bluegrass—this mix creates a durable, fine-textured lawn that performs exceptionally well in tree-covered yards, north-facing slopes, and partially shaded urban environments.

Key Benefits:

TWCA Certified Water Efficiency

• Independently tested to use 30–50% less water than traditional turfgrass.

• Ideal for drought-prone regions or properties with irrigation restrictions.

Built for Shade Tolerance

• Thrives in areas with limited sun exposure—from dappled shade to moderate full-day cover.

• Each variety selected for its proven performance under low light and minimal water.

Beautiful, Durable Turf

• ‘Lifeguard’ Tall Fescue delivers deep green color, strong roots, and drought durability.

• ‘Bighorn GT’ Hard Fescue offers low-growing, dense coverage and excellent shade resistance.

• ‘Enchantment’ Chewings Fescue contributes fine texture and superior turf quality.

• ‘Moonlight SLT’ Kentucky Bluegrass rounds out the blend with great disease resistance and a lush, uniform appearance.

Low Maintenance & Sustainable

• Reduces irrigation needs and withstands seasonal dry spells.

• Slow-growing, fine-bladed varieties reduce mowing frequency and fertilizer use.

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Ideal For:

• Shaded home lawns and backyards

• Tree-lined boulevards and municipal spaces

• Parks, campuses, and commercial areas with sun obstruction

• Eco-conscious property owners seeking shade solutions that conserve water

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With the TWCA Water-Wise Shade Turf Mix, you no longer have to sacrifice turf quality in shaded or drought-sensitive areas. This blend offers the best of both worlds—lush, resilient grass and smart water use—making it the perfect choice for sustainable, shaded landscapes.

For the contents of this seed mix by weight, please contact us to request a digital copy of the seed tag.

Formerly known as Kochia prostrata (prostrate summer cypress). Forage kochia is native to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Small to medium polymorphic evergreen subshrub adapted to a wide range of sites and soils, including shallow soils with low fertility and highly saline or sodic soils. Behaves as a warm or cool season plant depending upon the ecotype in which it is planted. Exhibits exceptional fire resistance and is used for green stripping in cheatgrass-infested ranges in the Intermountain West. Very palatable and nutritious for both livestock and wildlife as a year-round forage with proper management.

Scientific Name: Bassia prostrata

Need a pasture species perfect for doves, wild turkeys, deer, or pheasants? Grain sorghum is the perfect option for you! Also known as milo, this warm season crop is very drought and heat tolerant. It is often planted in areas that become too hot and too dry for corn and other common crops. Highly palatable to livestock and used primarily for feed grain, especially for birds. Can grow up to 5 feet tall and thrives in warmer conditions. Best when planted in May or June. Native to Africa.

Scientific Name: Sorghum bicolor

Seed comes treated with an insecticide.

Native to Asia, white proso millet is a warm-season, short-lived, annual bunchgrass. It is used primarily as a grain crop, but also as an emergency forage or hay crop when primary crops have failed. This is due to the fact that it can be planted later in the year during hot conditions, and it reaches maturity at 60 to 75 days. White proso millet is often used for food plots, especially for birds like quails, turkeys, ducks, and doves. Very drought-tolerant and can be used for erosion control.

Common flax is an annual broadleaf crop commonly used for its fiber, edible seeds, and for its production of linseed oil, which is created from drying its seeds. It grows up to 4 feet tall and sprouts beautiful blue or purple flowers. As a cool-season crop, common flax thrives in full sun and has very low water requirements. It prefers fertile, well-drained soils. Excellent for erosion control and food plot use.

Thickspike wheatgrass is a native perennial grass known for its sod-forming growth habits. It is strongly rhizomatous and drought tolerant. Grows up to 4 feet tall and is often used for erosion control and food plots. This grass begins growing in early spring and is generally long-lived. Suited for medium to coarse-textured soils.

Scientific Name: Pseudoroegneria spicata

This cool-season perennial bunchgrass is native to most of the Intermountain West and northern Great Plains areas. It’s long-lived and palatable to all types of livestock and wildlife, and its extensive root system makes bluebunch wheatgrass an excellent component in erosion control and reclamation projects. Drought-tolerant and adaptable to most soil types. It can reach up to four feet tall and can be grown without irrigation in areas receiving at least 8-10 inches of annual precipitation.

Western wheatgrass is a native cool-season grass found throughout the Great Plains and Intermountain West regions. It has a sod-forming growth habit, and tolerates dry saline soils. Excellent choice for native erosion control and reclamation projects. Moderately palatable to livestock and wildlife. Western wheatgrass can be grown without irrigation in areas receiving at least 10 inches of annual precipitation.

Scientific Name: Pascopyrum smithii

Virginia wildrye is a cool-season perennial bunchgrass native to the eastern 2/3rds of the United States. It prefers moist, heavy soils and is quite shade tolerant. Performs well in riparian zones, stream banks, and flood plains. Virginia wildrye establishes easily from seed, making it ideal for native reclamation projects. It’s palatable and nutritious to all types of livestock, and produces excellent forage especially in areas with heavy wet soil. Higher water requirements.