Trifolium andersonii
Anderson's clover
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Trifolium andersonii (Anderson's clover) is a native California subshrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by cushion form, stemless habit, and 3-7 leaflets diagnostic.
Anderson's clover is a California native perennial found in alpine and subalpine meadows at high elevations. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces delicate pink-purple flowers in compact head-like clusters approximately 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters wide. Growing as a short-tufted or cushion-forming herb with soft, silvery-gray hairs, it forms dense mats close to the ground. Its leaves are composed of 3 to 7 oblanceolate to obovate leaflets, each 5 to 20 millimeters long, with entire margins and persistent stipules. The plant's calyx is 8 to 10 millimeters long, with slender plumose lobes covered in soft hairs approximately 1 millimeter long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 37 sympatric species; cushion form, stemless habit, and 3-7 leaflets diagnostic
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, Mono
How to tell it apart
vs Medicago: Trifolium flowers persist around fruits; Medicago flowers fall off leaving exposed coiled fruits.; vs Oxalis: Trifolium has pea-shaped flowers; wood-sorrels (Oxalis) have 5-petaled star-shaped flowers and heart-notched leaflets.; vs Melilotus: Trifolium flowers persist enclosing fruits; Melilotus flowers fall off leaving exposed ridged pods.; vs Castilleja: Trifolium has pea flowers and 3 toothed leaflets; paintbrush (Castilleja) has tubular flowers in colorful bracts.; vs Acmispon: Trifolium leaflets have toothed edges; Acmispon leaflets have smooth untoothed margins.
Frequently asked questions
Is Trifolium andersonii native to California?
Yes. Trifolium andersonii is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Trifolium andersonii grow?
Trifolium andersonii occurs in Inyo, Plumas, Lassen, Sierra, Mono.
What plant family does Trifolium andersonii belong to?
Trifolium andersonii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.