The Arboretum is working to restore running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum), a rare species, to the Arboretum Woods and to cultivate it for ex-situ conservation in the Walk Across Kentucky native plant collection. A historic population of running buffalo clover was previously documented near the edge of the Arboretum Woods but has not been relocated in many years. As part of our restoration efforts to manage invasive species and increase the native plant diversity of this natural area, we have introduced plants grown from wild-collected seed to the woods this Fall.

Early settlers described Central Kentucky as the “land of cane and clover” due to its comparatively open woodland structure and large tracts of land dominated by river cane (Arundinaria gigantea) and native clovers. Due to confounding factors, notably habitat destruction and changes in disturbance regimes, cane and native clover are much less common in our natural areas today.

Most of the clover that we see in Kentucky, such as the clover found in our lawns and disturbed places, is of Eurasian origin and not native to the United States.  Our three species of native clover (running buffalo clover, annual buffalo clover, and Kentucky clover) are all rare in the state and across their range. Running buffalo clover is a creeping clover species that can be found in somewhat open woodlands, well-managed pastures, and along creeks with regular disturbance regimes. The species depends upon access to some sunlight and disturbances such as those created by grazing animals.

Until 2021, running buffalo clover was listed as a federally threatened species under the Endangered Species Act – it was delisted thanks to successful recovery of this species and the discovery of more wild populations across its range.

Our native plants team collected seed in early June from a wild population of this plant at Ashland: The Henry Clay Estate in Fayette County. The population at Ashland is carefully managed so that the plants receive disturbance at specific times of the year but are allowed to bloom and produce seed in the spring. We partnered with Ashland and botanists from the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves (who are responsible for monitoring this population) to identify the healthiest areas from which to collect seed, so as not to impact the existing population.

The seeds themselves are tiny beans inside of tiny seed pods. After cleaning the seed, we scarified it lightly using sandpaper to break the hard seed coat and allow water absorption into the seed. Finally, we sowed the seeds in the greenhouse at UK’s Horticulture Research Farm. We are thrilled to be able to plant these out in the Walk Across Kentucky native plant collection and Arboretum Woods this Fall!