Hello Fellow Gardener-

Thank you for your questions regarding microclover. Microclover (Trifolium repens var. Pirouette and Pipolina) is becoming a popular addition to lawns, and there are many pros and cons to incorporating it into your landscape. 

Clovers are known as beneficial plants, as they help prevent soil compaction, fix nitrogen, compete with weeds, and, in flowering varieties, a great source of food for bees. 

Microclovers come with a few distinct drawbacks, however, They do not tolerate high heat or drought, they do not do well in shady conditions, and its top growth may die back in the winter, leaving bare spots. 

According to seed purveyors, microclover is hardy to Zone 3 (Northern US), however publications in Maryland (Zone 6-7) and Illinois (Zones 5-7) indicate it dies back there in the winter. While the foliage may die back, microclover should grow back when temps warm up, but it may requiring re-seeding in some cases. In Southern climates, there is no die back, and the microclover remains green. Oregon is Zone 8, so it is possible that it might overwinter here without much die back if the winter is mild. 

There are a variety of clover options available for your landscape, and OSU does have a tool to help you determine which clover might work best for you, depending on what your clover needs are. The tool can be found here: https://forages.oregonstate.edu/matchclover/species-selection-tool

Here are links to more information about microclover:

• https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/microclovers-making-comeback-lawns-grow-biodiversity
• https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawns-and-microclover/

Happy Gardening!