Trifolium appendiculatum
Large variegated clover, Large Variegated Clover
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Trifolium appendiculatum (Large variegated clover) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: permanently wet sites, large flowers.
Large variegated clover is a California native perennial found in northern coastal, north coastal, Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, central western, southwestern, and southeastern Sierra Nevada areas in permanently wet meadows and marshes at elevations of 50 to 2,200 meters. Flowering from April to July, this clover produces lavender to purple flowers with white-tipped petals in dense heads 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with robust ascending stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall, it develops a sturdy, generally ascending habit. Its leaves have deeply cut stipules with obovate, elliptic, or heart-shaped leaflets characteristic of the clover family. The flower clusters feature a distinctive wheel-shaped involucre with 10 or more flowers, creating a dense and intricate display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 64 sympatric species. Key features: permanently wet sites, large flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Permanently wet or inundated sites, including meadows, marshes
Elevation: 50-2200 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Butte, Kern, Madera, Marin, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino, Tulare, Merced, Sacramento, Fresno, Placer, Humboldt, Solano, Contra Costa, Yolo, Sutter, Napa, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, San Diego, El Dorado, Lassen, Monterey, Tehama
Outside California: southwestern Oregon
Bloom period
Trifolium appendiculatum blooms Apr-Jul.
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 appendiculatum native to California?
Yes. Trifolium appendiculatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium appendiculatum bloom?
Trifolium appendiculatum blooms Apr-Jul.
Where in California does Trifolium appendiculatum grow?
Trifolium appendiculatum occurs in San Luis Obispo, Butte, Kern, Madera, Marin, Lake, Sonoma, Mendocino and other counties, at elevations of 50-2200 m.
What plant family does Trifolium appendiculatum belong to?
Trifolium appendiculatum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium appendiculatum grow in?
Trifolium appendiculatum grows in Permanently wet or inundated sites, including meadows, marshes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-06
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.