Trifolium dedeckerae

Dedecker's clover, Dedecker's Clover

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3

Dedecker's clover is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada and eastern Sierra Nevada in pinyon woodland to alpine crests at elevations of 2,100 to 3,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces pink to pale violet flowers in compact heads 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide, with flowers that quickly bend backwards. Growing in dense clusters with somewhat ascending stems, it forms a low-growing herbaceous mat with mostly basal leaves. Its leaves feature thick, lanceolate leaflets 0.5 to 4 centimeters long with slightly serrated edges, emerging from stipules that clasp the stem. The plant's delicate pink flowers, nestled in tight clusters and quickly reflexing, make it a distinctive alpine and subalpine clover species.

Habitat: Pinyon woodland to alpine crests, rock crevices

Bloom period: May-Jul

Elevation: 2100-3500 m

Bioregions: s SNH, SNE.

California counties: Inyo, Tulare, Sierra, Mono

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.