Shield Clover

Trifolium scutatum

Native to:
Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Lebanon-Syria, Libya, Palestine, Türkiye

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Trifolium
Species:
Trifolium scutatum
USDA Symbol:
TRSC8

Growth Characteristics

Height:
30 cm
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Months:
apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
pink, white

Keystone Species Ranking

Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers fertile soils with organic matter

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Scarification:
Seed coat scarification required before sowing
Germination Time:
7–21 days
Notes:
Scarification of hard seed coat recommended. May benefit from inoculation with Rhizobium.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI