Trifolium hybridum
Alsike clover
(c) William Harland, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by William Harland · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Trifolium hybridum (Alsike clover) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by non-bristle-tipped calyx lobes and sprawling habit.
Alsike clover is a naturalized perennial herb found sporadically in northwestern California and disturbed areas at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to October, this plant produces pink flowers in compact clusters 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with stems that range from sprawling to erect and reaching moderate heights, it develops a somewhat glabrous appearance. Its leaves feature three leaflets that are 1 to 4 centimeters long, elliptic to obovate in shape, with prominently veined lance-ovate stipules. The flowers are distinctive, with pink corollas 6 to 11 millimeters long and calyxes 3 to 5 millimeters with lanceolate lobes that are nearly as long as the flower tube.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; non-bristle-tipped calyx lobes and sprawling habit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Contra Costa, Alpine, Sierra, Alameda, Shasta, Plumas, Santa Barbara, Siskiyou, El Dorado, Humboldt, San Francisco, San Bernardino, Placer, Mono, Nevada, Yuba, Modoc, Kern, Butte, Fresno, Tehama, Lassen, Marin, Tuolumne, Del Norte, San Mateo, Sacramento, Mendocino, Yolo, Imperial, Sonoma, Monterey, Los Angeles
Outside California: United States, native to Europe
Bloom period
Trifolium hybridum blooms May-Oct.
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 hybridum native to California?
No. Trifolium hybridum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Trifolium hybridum bloom?
Trifolium hybridum blooms May-Oct.
Where in California does Trifolium hybridum grow?
Trifolium hybridum occurs in Contra Costa, Alpine, Sierra, Alameda, Shasta, Plumas, Santa Barbara, Siskiyou and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Trifolium hybridum belong to?
Trifolium hybridum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium hybridum grow in?
Trifolium hybridum 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.