Trifolium grayi
Gray's clover
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Trifolium grayi (Gray's clover) is a native California perennial in the Fabaceae family, recognized by large purple flowers with white tips and low elevation habitat.
Gray's clover is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges, northern and central Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Coast Ranges in wet meadows, foothill slopes, and pine woodland at elevations below 600 meters. Flowering from April to June, this clover produces purple flowers with white tips in inflorescences 8 to 16 millimeters long. Growing with slender stems, it forms low-spreading clusters typical of clover species. Its leaves are compound with three leaflets, characteristic of the trifolium genus. The flower's calyx tube measures 3 to 5 millimeters, roughly equal to its lobes and supporting a delicate purple and white blossom.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 45 sympatric species; large purple flowers with white tips and low elevation habitat
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, foothill slopes, pine woodland
Elevation: < 600 m
California counties: Sonoma, Amador, Tuolumne, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Monterey, Marin, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Sacramento, Alameda, Santa Clara
Bloom period
Trifolium grayi blooms Apr-Jun.
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 grayi native to California?
Yes. Trifolium grayi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium grayi bloom?
Trifolium grayi blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Trifolium grayi grow?
Trifolium grayi occurs in Sonoma, Amador, Tuolumne, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Monterey, Marin, San Luis Obispo and other counties, at elevations of < 600 m.
What plant family does Trifolium grayi belong to?
Trifolium grayi is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium grayi grow in?
Trifolium grayi grows in Wet meadows, foothill slopes, pine woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.