Rose Clover
Trifolium hirtum
- Native to:
- Albania, Algeria, Bulgaria, Canary Is., Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, NW. Balkan Pen., Portugal, Spain, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe
Eugene Zelenko
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Trifolium
- Species:
- Trifolium hirtum
- USDA Symbol:
- TRHI4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 40 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, rose, purple
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Mirificarma eburnella
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Pyrobombus Dalla, van Dyke bumble bee (Bombus vandykei), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Yellow-faced bumble (Bombus vosnesenskii) Butterflies:Gray Buckeye (Junonia grisea), Icaricia acmon, Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, moderately fertile loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to Mediterranean regions; prefers open, sunny habitats
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification or inoculation with Rhizobium improves germination. Seeds germinate readily with fall rains in Mediterranean climates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI