Trifolium productum
Productive clover
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Trifolium productum (Productive clover) is a native California herb in the Fabaceae family, recognized by . Key features: deflexed heads, quickly reflexed flowers.
Productive clover is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Cascades, northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Modoc Plateau in conifer forest, meadows, and open ridges at elevations of 1,100 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces red-purple or pink flowers in compact heads 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing with ascending stems that have short internodes, it forms a clover with distinctive lanceolate or elliptic leaflets 1 to 5.4 centimeters long. Its leaves feature coarsely serrate leaflets with papery lower stipules, creating a delicate textured appearance. The flower clusters are notably turned to the side or downward, with flowers quickly bending back on short pedicels.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 40 sympatric species. Key features: deflexed heads, quickly reflexed flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Conifer forest, meadows, to open ridges
Elevation: 1100-2400 m
California counties: Plumas, Siskiyou, Modoc, Butte, Shasta, Nevada, Alpine, Lassen, Sierra, Tuolumne, Trinity, Tehama, Mono, Placer
Outside California: Oregon
Bloom period
Trifolium productum 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 productum native to California?
Yes. Trifolium productum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Trifolium productum bloom?
Trifolium productum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Trifolium productum grow?
Trifolium productum occurs in Plumas, Siskiyou, Modoc, Butte, Shasta, Nevada, Alpine, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 1100-2400 m.
What plant family does Trifolium productum belong to?
Trifolium productum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Trifolium.
What habitat does Trifolium productum grow in?
Trifolium productum grows in Conifer forest, meadows, to open ridges.
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.