How often to water bush clover in California
In July on the north-central coast, established bush clover in loam needs a deep watering about every 9 days: about 1.5 gallons each time for a plant 2 feet across, about 1.1 gallons a week. Bush clover is a deciduous, semi-woody shrub from Japan and China in the bean family. Its arching stems form a fountain-like mound, and drooping sprays of rose-purple, pea-like flowers open in late summer and early fall. It thrives in average or even poor, sandy soil. Good drainage matters more to it than generous watering.
How often to water bush clover, month by month
Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.
How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1 foot of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area the plant covers, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.
How to tell it needs water
- Soil dry 3 to 4 inches down around the base of a young plant means it is time for a deep soak
- Bluish-green leaflets that droop in afternoon heat and are still limp by evening, over dry soil, point to thirst
- Soil that stays soggy for days after a soak is a warning, since good drainage is essential for bush clover
- Bare stems in winter are normal for this deciduous shrub and are not a sign that it needs water
- Sparse flowers on a plant in shade reflect too little sun rather than a watering fault
How to water it
- Water at the base of the clump with drip or a slow hose, keeping the arching stems and flower sprays dry
- Soak until water reaches about a foot down, then let the top few inches dry before the next soak
- Plant in well-drained soil, even poor and sandy ground, and avoid low spots where water stands
- Spread a light mulch over the root zone, keeping it back from the base of the stems
- Widen the watered area as the arching stems spread, since a mature plant can reach 8 feet across
Through the seasons
Water a new bush clover deeply through its first summer while its roots spread into the soil. It tolerates some drought once established, though it is not drought proof. Growth starts in spring, and flowers form on new stems for a late summer and early fall show. Leaves drop in fall, and the top growth dies to the ground in hard winters. Many gardeners simply cut it to the ground in late winter. Winter rain covers the cool months on the north-central coast. WUCOLS rates bush clover moderate water on the north-central coast. WUCOLS has not evaluated it for the Central Valley, the south coast, South Inland, the high desert or the low desert.
In pots
Bush clover grows 3 to 6 feet tall in a season, so only a large, deep container will hold it. Its arching stems look good spilling over the rim of a raised planter. Use a gritty mix and make sure the pot drains freely, since soggy roots are its weak point. Check the mix 2 inches down every few days in summer heat. Water until it runs from the holes, then empty the saucer. Cutting the stems down in late winter keeps it in scale. The bare plant needs little water in winter, so let the mix dry a little between soakings.
- A year
- no figure
- Reference
- Sacramento climate table
- Counts
- Plant need, before sprinkler losses
WUCOLS lists Bush Clover as not evaluated for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.
Monthly water need by climate zone
Bush Clover: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone
| Month | N. Coast | C. Valley | S. Coast | S. Inland | Hi Desert | Lo Desert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.37 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Feb | 0.53 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mar | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Apr | 1.18 | – | – | – | – | – |
| May | 1.46 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jun | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jul | 1.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Aug | 1.49 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sep | 1.24 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Oct | 0.87 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Nov | 0.47 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dec | 0.31 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Year | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.
Plants with the same water needs 16
Rated not evaluated in the Central Valley, like bush clover. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.
Lilyleaf LadybellsAdenophora liliifolianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
ArnicaArnica montananot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Frilly BergeniaBergenia ciliatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Cabbage on a StickBrighamia insignisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Basket PlantCallisia fragransnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Forest SedgeCarex sylvaticanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Umbrella DracaenaDianella ensifolianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Rusty FoxgloveDigitalis ferrugineanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Big-Flowered FoxgloveDigitalis grandifloranot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Woolly FoxgloveDigitalis lanatanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Sunset FoxgloveDigitalis obscuranot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Male FernDryopteris filix-masnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Alpine Sea HollyEryngium alpinumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Purple SpurgeEuphorbia dulcisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Queen of the MeadowFilipendula ulmarianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
DropwortFilipendula vulgaris (Filipendula hexapetala)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingTurn this into minutes on your water days
Every city page has a calculator that takes bush clover, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.
Questions people ask
How much water does bush clover need per day?
In July on the north-central coast, established bush clover needs about 0.2 gallons a day for a plant 2 feet across and about 0.7 gallons a day for a plant 4 feet across. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.
Does watering for bush clover change across California?
Yes. WUCOLS rates bush clover separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, not evaluated in the Central Valley zone, not evaluated in the South Coastal zone, not evaluated in the South Inland zone, not evaluated in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not evaluated in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.
When should I prune bush clover?
Prune in late winter or early spring, before new growth starts. It blooms on new growth, so this timing does not cost you flowers. Many gardeners cut it to the ground, and it regrows 3 to 6 feet in one season.
Is bush clover invasive?
It can be weedy. It reseeds, and stems that lie on the ground can root at the nodes. Pull unwanted seedlings while small and lift rooted stems before they take hold.
Why is my bush clover not blooming?
It flowers late, from about August into September, so a plant without spring flowers is normal. Shade is the next suspect, since it blooms best in full sun. Move it to a sunnier spot if summer ends with few flowers.
Does bush clover need fertilizer?
Rarely. It performs well in infertile, sandy soil, and over-fertilizing should be avoided. Good drainage and full sun do more for it than feeding.
Can bush clover grow on a slope?
Yes. It suits slopes and banks and tolerates erosion-prone ground. The arching stems also spill well over a garden wall or raised bed.
Does bush clover attract hummingbirds?
Yes, its flowers draw hummingbirds and butterflies. It brings color to the garden in late summer and early fall. It is also listed as deer resistant.
More plant watering guides
Sources
- WUCOLS IV plant water use classification for Lespedeza thunbergii, the University of California survey California agencies use for landscape plan reviewRead August 23, 2026 on wucols.ucdavis.edu
- Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, adopted text and appendices, effective 2025-01-02 · monthly reference evapotranspiration per city, Appendix CRead August 23, 2026 on water.ca.gov/-/media/DWR-Website/Web-Pages/Programs/Water-Use-And-Efficiency/MWELO-Rulemaking/Final-MWELO-Text-and-Appendices_20250103.pdf
- UC Statewide IPM Program, irrigation scheduling using evapotranspirationRead September 30, 2026 on ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/GARDEN/ENVIRON/evap.html
- Shaw and Pittenger, Landscape Irrigation System Evaluation and Management, UC Cooperative Extension, 2009Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2013-02/160836.pdf
- Pittenger, Water Management in Gardens and Landscapes, UC Riverside, 2017Read September 30, 2026 on ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-03/258022.pdf