If you’ve ever planted a food plot for deer, you know that not all plots are the same. What you may not know is that not all clovers are the same either.

While they get lumped together and treated as one collective thing "clover" is a broad term and includes many different species. There are dozens if not hundreds of types of clover out there all with very different traits. Some are cold hardy while others die at the first cold snap. Some can withstand hot dry summers while others wither up and die. Some only last one growing season while others will keep coming back for years. Some grow 2-3ft tall and others never get more than a few inches off the ground. There is SO much variability and that's why choosing the right clover for your specific area and planting situation is so important.

At Whitetail Hill, we know that matching the right clover species to the right plot conditions can mean the difference between a lush green buffet and a bare patch of dirt. Success and failure. If you're familiar with our seed mixes at all you know 2 things:

1) We use various types of clover in many of our mixes 

2) That we tailor each blend to a specific planting situation (shady plots, no-till planting, early or late season food, etc.).

Each one has a purpose and that means if the mix includes clover we match the type of clover we use to the intended application of that seed mix!

Every clover variety has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some stand tall through blazing heat, while others thrive in wet soil. Some are shade tolerant, some are not. By using these species selectively in our food plot mixes, we create year-round deer forage that performs in almost any condition.

Intermediate White Clover (Durana or similar) – The Heat & Drought Warrior

When hot, dry weather sets in, most perennial clovers struggle. Durana, however, is built for the challenge. Its deep root system and creeping growth habit allow it to survive where others fail, keeping foliage green well into summer. Over time, it spreads to fill bare spots, creating a thick, long-lasting stand. High tonnage producer

Best for: Sandy or well-drained soils, southern or drought-prone areas, long-term perennial plots. Heavy tonnage producer, very shade tolerant. 

Balansa Clover – The Wet-Weather Champion

At the other extreme, balansa clover thrives in wetter soils that drown out other plants. Its tolerance for soggy, low-lying areas makes it a go-to for bottomlands, floodplains, or plots with poor drainage. Balansa grows fast, delivers excellent protein, and is highly palatable to deer in both spring and fall. You'll find this clover in Soggy Bottoms where it is uniquely suited to handle wet areas. 

Best for: Low-lying areas, creek bottoms, flood-prone fields, or wet-weather plots. Also highly cold tolerant. 

Ladino Clover – The Heavy Producer

Ladino is the "middle ground" of the white clover family. Tall, leafy, and packed with protein, it’s a consistent producer that can handle heavy grazing pressure. Given good moisture and fertile soil, Ladino can anchor a perennial food plot for years, keeping deer fed through multiple seasons.

Best for: Fertile, moderately moist soils, high-traffic feeding areas, multi-year perennial plots.

White Dutch Clover – The Low-Growing Ground Cover

White Dutch is smaller than Ladino but even tougher. It can handle heavy grazing and very poor soils. It spreads quickly, creating a dense carpet of forage that deer love. It’s also winter-hardy and thrives in cooler climates, making it a great backbone clover for northern hunters.

Best for: Cool-season perennials, mixed clover stands, low-maintenance plots, cooler climates.

Crimson Clover – The Fast Starter

If you want quick attraction—especially for fall hunting—crimson clover is hard to beat. It germinates rapidly, offering fresh forage in just weeks. Crimson also makes a great nurse crop for slower-establishing perennials, shading the soil and reducing weed pressure until the main stand takes over. You'll find this as a fast acting component of several blends including Whitetail Hill Clover, Bucks and Beards, and Complete 1.  

Best for: Quick seasonal plots, fall hunting attraction, nurse crop for perennials.

The Whitetail Hill Approach

We don’t simply use clovers at random. Each Whitetail Hill blend is tailored to the conditions you face—whether that’s sun-baked hillsides, soggy creek bottoms, lush bottomland, or frigid late season plots. The lineup of clovers we use are hand picked to provide you with the results you need. Using the right clover for the right situation makes all the difference between a great plot and a failed one.

When choosing our seed we even go a step farther selecting specific strains of each of these types of clover that have the best traits for your plots.

Even among these types of clover there are differences, for example: there are many different types of intermediate whites on the market and several balansa clovers. Not all carry the traits we want as food plotters. Because of that we are highly selective in what we use and how we use it in our blends. All clover is not created equal, get yours from somewhere that puts in the extra work to use the right one for the job.