Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum
Carpet clover, Carpet Clover
Photo: parent species Trifolium monanthum · (c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jim Morefield · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum (Carpet clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: mat-forming, rounded leaflet tips, straight peduncles.
Carpet clover is a California native perennial found in the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and eastern Sierra Nevada in pine belt forests, wet meadows with aspen or willows, and rocky alpine slopes at elevations of 1,700 to 3,900 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces white flowers in small clusters of one to four blooms. Growing as a low-spreading mat with thin white rhizomes, it forms dense ground-covering patches 10 to 20 centimeters across. Its leaves have distinctive three-parted leaflets approximately 2 to 4 times longer than wide, with rounded or blunt tips that create a soft, delicate appearance. The plant's glabrous to slightly hairy texture and ability to thrive in high-elevation alpine environments make it a resilient and charming mountain groundcover.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 46 sympatric species. Key features: mat-forming, rounded leaflet tips, straight peduncles
Habitat and range
Habitat: Pine belt upwards, wet meadows with aspen or willows, rocky slopes, alpine
Elevation: 1700-3900 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Amador, San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, Fresno, Madera, El Dorado, Tulare, Nevada, Butte, Ventura, Kern, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Alpine, Sierra, Plumas, Placer
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum blooms Jun-Aug.
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 monanthum subsp. monanthum native to California?
Yes. Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum bloom?
Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum grow?
Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum occurs in Los Angeles, Amador, San Bernardino, Inyo, Mono, Fresno, Madera, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 1700-3900 m.
What plant family does Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum belong to?
Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum grow in?
Trifolium monanthum subsp. monanthum grows in Pine belt upwards, wet meadows with aspen or willows, rocky slopes, alpine.
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.