Trifolium beckwithii
Beckwith's clover
(c) Matt Berger, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trifolium beckwithii (Beckwith's clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by perennial habit, basal leaves, and large reflexed flowers diagnostic.
Beckwith's clover is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains and Modoc Plateau in meadows and evergreen forest at elevations of 1,200 to 2,100 meters. Flowering from May to August, this clover produces pink to purple flowers in compact head-like clusters 2 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with ascending glabrous stems and conspicuous green stipules, it develops low-growing clumps with delicate structural arrangement. Its leaves feature 1 to 4 centimeter long leaflets that are oblong to ovate, typically arranged with one basal pair and a single cauline pair. The flowers, measuring 10 to 17 millimeters long, can appear in subtle two-toned pink and purple coloration.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 35 sympatric species; perennial habit, basal leaves, and large reflexed flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, evergreen forest
Elevation: 1200-2100 m
California counties: Lassen, Nevada, Sierra, Modoc, Plumas, Butte
Outside California: to South Dakota
Bloom period
Trifolium beckwithii blooms May-Aug.
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 beckwithii native to California?
Yes. Trifolium beckwithii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium beckwithii bloom?
Trifolium beckwithii blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Trifolium beckwithii grow?
Trifolium beckwithii occurs in Lassen, Nevada, Sierra, Modoc, Plumas, Butte, at elevations of 1200-2100 m.
What plant family does Trifolium beckwithii belong to?
Trifolium beckwithii is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium beckwithii grow in?
Trifolium beckwithii grows in Meadows, evergreen forest.
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.