Common names: white clover, ladino clover

Scientific names: Trifolium repens

Seasons of significant use: spring, winter

Characteristics: Introduced, naturalized, perennial, cool season forb to usually less than 1.0 foot. Stems creeping, to 1.5 feet, often rooting at nodes, often mat-forming; leaves alternate, pamately trifoliolate compound, stipulate; leaflets 3, essentially sessile; inflorescence a subglobose head, usually less than 1.0 inch in length or width (1-3 cm in diameter), 40-85 flowered, on axillary peduncles 2.0-8.0 inches long; flowers shortly pedicelled, usually white but some petals may be pinkish. Flowers May-October.

Plant community type: Open areas and semi-wooded areas with moderate-high levels of sunlight penetration. Often occurs in lawns, on overgrazed areas, along roadsides, etc. Does especially well in areas with adequate soil moisture.

Comments: Responds well to late fall burns (which presumably scarifies the seeds and facilitates germination) as well as to other forms of litter removal in the fall such as mowing, heavy grazing, etc.

More Plant Photos and Descriptions:
Appendix C: Plants by Common Name
Appendix C: Plants by Scientific Name
Appendix C: Plants Listed by Family