Trifolium arvense
Rabbitfoot clover
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Trifolium arvense (Rabbitfoot clover) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by fuzzy gray spikes and tiny flowers diagnostic.
Rabbitfoot clover is a naturalized annual found in California's Central West and South Coast regions in disturbed areas at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering in July, this plant produces pale pink to white flowers in dense, dull green to gray spikes 1 to 3 centimeters long with distinctive plumose needle-like calyx lobes. Growing with generally erect hairy stems, it forms compact clusters with narrow, delicate appearance. Its leaves have three leaflets 0.5 to 2 centimeters long, narrow-oblong in shape, with lanceolate stipules that occasionally have bristle tips. The tiny flowers are significantly shorter than their fuzzy, prominent calyx, giving the plant its distinctive "rabbit's foot" texture.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 68 sympatric species; fuzzy gray spikes and tiny flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: especially < 300 m
California counties: Shasta, Humboldt, Butte, Tehama, Yuba, Monterey, Trinity, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Placer, Siskiyou
Outside California: to British Columbia, southeastern United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Trifolium arvense blooms 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 arvense native to California?
No. Trifolium arvense is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Trifolium arvense bloom?
Trifolium arvense blooms Jul.
Where in California does Trifolium arvense grow?
Trifolium arvense occurs in Shasta, Humboldt, Butte, Tehama, Yuba, Monterey, Trinity, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of especially < 300 m.
What plant family does Trifolium arvense belong to?
Trifolium arvense is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium arvense grow in?
Trifolium arvense grows in Disturbed areas.
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.