In response to Olafhenny: I haven't actually grown this plant, but have a lot of clover of other types around, of the volunteer varieties...Read More. Your Dark Dancer may have succumbed to its own success and your generous care. Clover fixes nitrogen in soil and is something of a reclamation plant for poor soils. Once the nitrogen it's adding to the soil reaches a certain level, the plant may cease to survive/thrive because nitrogen is a waste product for clover. It would probably do better if you don't fertilize it. Try again?
It is a lovely little ground cover. Does anyone know if it can handle even light foot traffic?
Although Dark Dancer can be quite invasive, I have the ideal spot for it, an area of 65 sf on the west side of the house, completely surr...Read Moreounded by house, concrete walkways and such, where it served as e beautiful background for pale green hostas.
Unfortunately after thriving for 5 or 6 years it suddenly started to become patchy last year and this year the Dark Dancer has all but disappeared. I am at a loss as to what could have caused its demise. As there is no obvious indication of any disease, I must assume, that it is now lacking some nutrient. What does clover need other than regular fertilizer?
I would welcome any advice
Last fall I planted three 5 inch diameter dark dancer clover plants in a moist, part shade spot on the north side of the house. After on...Read Moree season they are each about 18 inches plus in diameter. Being that we have about 75 frost free days a year here, that's an impressive ... and if I'm honest, maybe a bit unnerving... Amount of growth! The rooting stems of the clover were starting to grow into other plants around it and interfere with them, so i removed the stems which was really pretty easy. Also, the flowers were white, not pink as mentioned above. Overall, I'm happy with them and this would be a good ground cover around plants that can hold their own.
It establishes easily and spreads normally like any clover does. I have it growing in a corner by the street and driveway, so when I trim...Read Moremed it back off the driveway, I used the cuttings to propagate it elsewhere. It's very easy to propagate; just place any 3-4" long cutting on the soil and cover with up to an inch of soil - a week later, you can tell it has established roots and is growing new leaves.
In Ohio I have had almost TOO much luck with shamrocks!! They spread like mad but are easy to remove if they become invasive. ...Read Morer />
My wife brought back a pack of seeds after her trip to Ireland and I simple sprinkled them here and there in the yard and up they came!!
Smiths Grove, KY (Zone 6b) | January 2009 | neutral
I don't have this plant, but do want to try it. The question about it's tendency to spread...
According to Proven Winners...Read More tag "Vigorous grower with dark clover-shaped leaves; white summer flowers; can be aggressive" rated zones 4-9.
According to Paghat's website "It can spread as far as it's permitted. It is strongly evergreen here on Puget Sound (Zone 8), but can be grown down to Zone 4 where it will be a die-back perennial. The flowers of the species are white, but 'Dark Dancer' has pinkish flowers in globe-shaped summer racemes."
Sounds like it's a typical oxalis in habit and probably should be in a container if you don't want it to spread. Perhaps people who are growing this plant can let us know how this one does or does not behave. ;-)
I have two or three of these in my sunny dry front yard. I don't know where they came from, but I wish all their friends and relations wo...Read Moreuld come too. I love the look of it, but to think of it taking over or inhibiting anything else...no way. It seems like the most fragile plant there.
I don't do a lot of watering in the front yard, mostly xeriscaping, and we have snowy winters and hot summers at 6000 feet.
The contrast, as previously noted, is great. A ground cover that I would definitely love to see spread.
Hampton Roads, VA (Zone 7b) | November 2007 | neutral
I love this plant for it's contrast qualities but am hesitant to put it in the ground. Has anyone planted this in a bed? I'd like to use ...Read Moreit as a ground cover in a contained bed but don't know if it'll allow bulbs and perennials to come up through or if it'll adversely affect the lilac, clematis, and false cypress that are also in that bed. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
In response to Olafhenny: I haven't actually grown this plant, but have a lot of clover of other types around, of the volunteer varieties...Read More
Although Dark Dancer can be quite invasive, I have the ideal spot for it, an area of 65 sf on the west side of the house, completely surr...Read More
Last fall I planted three 5 inch diameter dark dancer clover plants in a moist, part shade spot on the north side of the house. After on...Read More
It establishes easily and spreads normally like any clover does. I have it growing in a corner by the street and driveway, so when I trim...Read More
Mine is container grown, partial shade, so I can control its growth. As a groundcover, tolerates moderate foot traffic.
In Ohio I have had almost TOO much luck with shamrocks!! They spread like mad but are easy to remove if they become invasive....Read More
Rabbits absolutely loves this plant. Survivors tend to clung to nearby plants so they turn out not to be a great edger.
I don't have this plant, but do want to try it. The question about it's tendency to spread...
According to Proven Winners...Read More
I have two or three of these in my sunny dry front yard. I don't know where they came from, but I wish all their friends and relations wo...Read More
I love this plant for it's contrast qualities but am hesitant to put it in the ground. Has anyone planted this in a bed? I'd like to use ...Read More