Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri
Elmer's clover, Elmer's Clover
Photo: parent species Trifolium longipes · (c) paulexcoff, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri (Elmer's clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by key features: extremely narrow leaflets (6-10x longer than wide), white flowers.
Elmer's clover is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and Cascade Ranges in moist, shaded areas like streambanks and meadows at elevations of 600 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces nearly white flowers in compact clusters with spreading to ascending blossoms. Growing with slender stems, it forms low-spreading clumps typically 10 to 30 centimeters tall. Its leaves feature distinctive trefoil structures with leaflets approximately 6 to 10 times longer than their width, creating a delicate, lacy appearance. Each flower cluster has short pedicels less than one millimeter long, giving the plant a tight, compact inflorescence.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 47 sympatric species; key features: extremely narrow leaflets (6-10x longer than wide), white flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, shaded areas, streambanks, meadows
Elevation: 600-1700 m
California counties: Plumas, Trinity, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta, Humboldt, Nevada, Placer, Tuolumne
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri blooms Jun-Sep.
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 longipes subsp. elmeri native to California?
Yes. Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri bloom?
Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri grow?
Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri occurs in Plumas, Trinity, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Tehama, Shasta, Humboldt, Nevada and other counties, at elevations of 600-1700 m.
What plant family does Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri belong to?
Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri grow in?
Trifolium longipes subsp. elmeri grows in Moist, shaded areas, streambanks, meadows.
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.