Trifolium palmeri
Southern island clover, Southern Island Clover
(c) Sula Vanderplank, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.2
Trifolium palmeri (Southern island clover) is a native California annual in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: Channel Islands endemic, narrow leaflets.
Southern island clover is a native annual herb found on the Channel Islands in grassy places near the ocean at elevations of 0 to 300 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces purple or pink flowers in compact clusters 1 to 1.5 centimeters wide. Growing with erect, glabrous stems, it forms an upright annual with delicate branching. Its leaves feature 3 leaflets, each 10 to 30 millimeters long, with narrowly elliptic shape and distinctive bristle-like teeth at the edges. Its calyx is 4 to 6 millimeters long with narrow triangular lobes, supporting small flowers slightly larger than the calyx.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species. Key features: Channel Islands endemic, narrow leaflets
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassy places near ocean
Elevation: 0-300 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Trifolium palmeri blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.2
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 palmeri native to California?
Yes. Trifolium palmeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium palmeri bloom?
Trifolium palmeri blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Trifolium palmeri grow?
Trifolium palmeri occurs in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, at elevations of 0-300 m.
What plant family does Trifolium palmeri belong to?
Trifolium palmeri is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
Is Trifolium palmeri rare or endangered?
Trifolium palmeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.2, state rank S4.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.