Trifolium pratense
Red clover
(c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Trifolium pratense (Red clover) is a non-native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: non-native, large red-purple heads, sessile.
Red clover is a naturalized perennial herb found in California's Central Valley and northern Great Basin in disturbed areas at elevations of 0 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from April to October, this plant produces red-purple flowers in dense head-like clusters 2 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with ascending, generally hairy stems, it forms a loose, spreading habit. Its leaves have three leaflets 1.5 to 3.5 centimeters long, elliptic to obovate in shape, with bristle-tipped stipules. The fruit opens circumscissile, releasing one to two seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 71 sympatric species. Key features: non-native, large red-purple heads, sessile
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: 0-2900 m
California counties: Alameda, Humboldt, Mono, Del Norte, El Dorado, Kings, San Luis Obispo, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Alpine, Calaveras, Modoc, Butte, Trinity, Siskiyou, Lassen, Shasta, Yuba, Tehama, Mendocino, Los Angeles, Inyo, Napa, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Sacramento, Plumas, Lake, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Mateo, Monterey, Amador, Santa Clara, Sonoma, San Joaquin, Kern
Outside California: United States, especially northern, Canada, native to Europe
Bloom period
Trifolium pratense blooms Apr-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 pratense native to California?
No. Trifolium pratense is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Trifolium pratense bloom?
Trifolium pratense blooms Apr-Oct.
Where in California does Trifolium pratense grow?
Trifolium pratense occurs in Alameda, Humboldt, Mono, Del Norte, El Dorado, Kings, San Luis Obispo, Sierra and other counties, at elevations of 0-2900 m.
What plant family does Trifolium pratense belong to?
Trifolium pratense is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium pratense grow in?
Trifolium pratense 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.