Trifolium buckwestiorum
Santa cruz clover, Santa Cruz Clover
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Trifolium buckwestiorum (Santa cruz clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Santa cruz clover is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in southwestern San Francisco Bay bioregion in Mendocino, Monterey, and Santa Cruz counties, inhabiting grassy or disturbed areas at elevations below 710 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces pale pink or white flowers in compact heads 8 to 12 millimeters wide with darker colored keel. Growing with decumbent to ascending stems, it forms delicate low-spreading plants. Its leaves have three leaflets, each 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters long, elliptic to obovate with fine serrated edges and distinctive stipules featuring multiple bristle-tipped teeth. The flower's calyx tube is 4 to 5 millimeters long with inconspicuous lateral teeth and a small bristle at its tip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy or disturbed areas
Elevation: < 710 m
California counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, Mendocino, Sonoma, San Mateo, Santa Clara
Bloom period
Trifolium buckwestiorum blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 buckwestiorum native to California?
Yes. Trifolium buckwestiorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium buckwestiorum bloom?
Trifolium buckwestiorum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Trifolium buckwestiorum grow?
Trifolium buckwestiorum occurs in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Mendocino, Sonoma, San Mateo, Santa Clara, at elevations of < 710 m.
What plant family does Trifolium buckwestiorum belong to?
Trifolium buckwestiorum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
Is Trifolium buckwestiorum rare or endangered?
Trifolium buckwestiorum carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.