White Clover
Trifolium repens
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Labrador, Lebanon-Syria, Madeira, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe
Matt Lavin (www.flickr.com) from Bozeman, Montana, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Trifolium
- Species:
- Trifolium repens
- USDA Symbol:
- TRRE3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 30 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep,oct
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
- Lawn Substitute:
- Yes
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
Agrotis venerabilis, Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), Ancylis metamelana, Coleophora deauratella, Dargida procinctus, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Io moth (Automeris io), Lacinipolia olivacea, metallic coleophora (Coleophora mayrella), Mirificarma eburnella, sparganothis fruitworm moth (Sparganothis sulfureana), Trichosilia manifesta, velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Greenish Blue (Plebejus saepiolus), Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Queen Alexandra's Sulphur (Colias alexandra)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black and (Bombus auricomus), Bombus californicus, Bombus Latreille, Common eastern (Bombus impatiens), Confusing bumble (Bombus perplexus), Fernald cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus flavidus), Forest bumble bee (Bombus sylvicola), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Northern amber (Bombus borealis), Obscure bumble bee (Bombus caliginosus), Pyrobombus Dalla, 🛑Rusty-patched bumble (Bombus affinis), Sitka bumble bee (Bombus sitkensis), Southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus), Tri-colored bumble (Bombus ternarius), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow-banded bumble (Bombus terricola), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), Zadontomerus Ashmead Moths:Porphyrosela minuta Butterflies:American Copper (Lycaena hypophlaeas), American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Cabbage White (Pieris rapae), California ringlet (Coenonympha california), Checkered White (Pontia protodice), Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Checkered-skipper (Burnsius communis), Common Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus communis), Common Sootywing (Pholisora catullus), Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Essex Skipper (Thymelicus lineola), Field Skipper (Atalopedes campestris), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Great Spangled (Argynnis cybele), Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor), Little Glassywing (Vernia verna), Little Yellow (Eurema lisa), Marine Blue (Leptotes marina), Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Peck's Skipper (Polites coras), Reakirt's Blue (Echinargus isola), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Red-spotted Admiral (Limenitis arthemis), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus), Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta), Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), Zabulon Skipper (Lon zabulon), Zabulon Skipper (Poanes zabulon), Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, rabbits, deer
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates moderate drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Common in grasslands and pastures
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Scarification improves germination. Seeds germinate readily in warm conditions with consistent moisture.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires darkness. | Requires scarification.