Trifolium monanthum subsp. parvum

Small carpet clover, Small Carpet Clover

Family: Fabaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Small carpet clover is a California native perennial found in the northern Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and northeastern Sierra Nevada in pine forests, wet meadows, and along streams at elevations of 1,500 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces small white flowers in compact clusters of 1 to 9 blossoms with peduncles distinctively bent at the tip. Growing with dense, hairy stems emerging from a thickened taproot, it forms small clustered groups rather than spreading mats. Its leaves have rounded or notched leaflets, typically two to four times longer than wide, creating a delicate textural appearance. The plant's distinctive hairiness and compact growth form help it thrive in high-elevation mountain habitats.

Habitat: Pine forest, wet meadows and along streams

Bloom period: Jun-Aug

Elevation: 1500-2900 m

Bioregions: CaR, SNH, SNE.

California counties: Tulare, Calaveras, Placer, Fresno, Tuolumne, El Dorado, Alpine, Mariposa, Nevada, Plumas, Butte, Amador, Sierra, Mono, Madera, Inyo

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