Black Medic
Medicago lupulina
Black medic is a low, clover-like legume weed with small yellow flower clusters and distinctive coiled black seed pods, common in lawns and disturbed soils.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Low to moderate; drought-tolerant
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Black medic (Medicago lupulina) is a low-growing annual or short-lived perennial legume in the same genus as alfalfa. It resembles clover and often invades lawns, especially those that are thin, compacted, or low in nitrogen.
As a legume, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen, so its presence can indicate poor, infertile soil. Its tiny coiled seed pods turn black when mature, giving the plant its name.
How to identify it
Distinguished from clovers by its flowers, pods, and leaflet detail.
- Leaves: Three oval leaflets (trifoliate), the central one on a short stalk; often with a tiny point at the leaflet tip
- Flowers: Small, bright yellow, in compact rounded clusters
- Seed pods: Tightly coiled, kidney-shaped, turning black at maturity
- Growth: Low, sprawling, mat-forming with a sprawling taproot
- Size: Stems trail 6-24 inches but stay low to the ground
Care & growing
A tough, undemanding weed of poor soils.
- Light: Full sun to light shade
- Water: Drought-tolerant; thrives in dry, compacted soil
- Soil: Tolerates poor, low-nitrogen soils; often appears where turf is stressed
- Temperature: Adaptable across temperate climates
- Control: Improve lawn health and fertility, since vigorous turf crowds it out; hand-pull or use broadleaf herbicides for heavy infestations
- Propagation: Reseeds readily
Habitat & origin
Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, black medic has naturalized throughout North America and other temperate parts of the world.
It grows in lawns, gardens, roadsides, fields, and waste places, favoring dry, compacted, or nutrient-poor soils where it readily establishes.
Frequently asked questions
Is black medic the same as clover?
No, but they look alike. Black medic is a related legume with yellow flowers and coiled black seed pods, while true clovers have rounder flower heads and often white markings on the leaves.
Why is black medic growing in my lawn?
It thrives in dry, compacted, low-nitrogen soils, so its presence often signals that your lawn is stressed or lacking fertility. Improving soil health helps crowd it out.
Is black medic beneficial?
It can be. As a legume it fixes nitrogen and improves the soil and attracts pollinators, even though it is unwanted as a lawn weed.
How do I get rid of black medic?
Encourage a dense, well-fertilized lawn to outcompete it, hand-pull small amounts including the taproot, and use a broadleaf herbicide for larger infestations.
Black Medic guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Black Medic.
