Trifolium (clover) — Bushy, Matforming, Columnar upright

Overview

Trifolium is a bushy, matforming, columnar upright herbaceous perennial in the genus Trifolium, part of the Fabaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Trifolium grows best in full sun, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include wildflower meadow and wildlife gardens. It is native to Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Burundi, Buryatiya, California, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Central European Russia, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, China North-Central, Chita, Colombia, Colorado, Corse, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, Denmark, District of Columbia, Djibouti, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Florida, France, Free State, Føroyar, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Hungary, Iceland, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., KwaZulu-Natal, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Louisiana, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Manchuria, Maryland, Mauritania, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northern Provinces, Northwest European Russia, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Pennsylvania, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Romania, Rwanda, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russia, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Tennessee, Texas, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Utah, Uzbekistan, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutiya, Yemen, Yukon, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

About

Trifolium is a herbaceous perennial in the family Fabaceae that occurs naturally across a very wide native range including Great Britain. It grows in forms from mat-forming to more upright, columnar habits and can be well-branched. Leaves are deciduous and the plant suits a broad set of soil types and pH levels. It flowers from May to August.

About the genus

Clovers, also called trefoils, are plants of the genus Trifolium. They are herbaceous plants growing up to 30 cm (12 in) tall.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Trifolium

Sunlight: Full sun
Soil type: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH: Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moisture: Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Aspect: East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
Exposure: Sheltered
UK hardiness: H7

Plant details

Trifolium size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
Habit: Bushy, Matforming, Columnar upright
Foliage: Deciduous
Suggested uses: Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Native to: Afghanistan, Alabama, Alaska, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Amur, Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, Arkansas, Austria, Azores, Baleares, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, British Columbia, Bulgaria, Burundi, Buryatiya, California, Cameroon, Canary Is., Cape Provinces, Cape Verde, Central European Russia, Chile Central, Chile North, Chile South, China North-Central, Chita, Colombia, Colorado, Corse, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czechia-Slovakia, Delaware, Denmark, District of Columbia, Djibouti, DR Congo, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, East Himalaya, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Florida, France, Free State, Føroyar, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Gulf of Guinea Is., Gulf States, Hungary, Iceland, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Irkutsk, Italy, Japan, Kansas, Kazakhstan, Kentucky, Kenya, Khabarovsk, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, Kuril Is., KwaZulu-Natal, Lebanon-Syria, Lesotho, Libya, Louisiana, Madagascar, Madeira, Malawi, Manchuria, Maryland, Mauritania, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Mississippi, Missouri, Mongolia, Montana, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Carolina, North Caucasus, North European Russia, Northern Provinces, Northwest European Russia, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Pennsylvania, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Romania, Rwanda, Sakhalin, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Sinai, South Carolina, South Dakota, South European Russia, Spain, Sudan-South Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Tanzania, Tennessee, Texas, Transcaucasus, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuva, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Utah, Uzbekistan, Virginia, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Xinjiang, Yakutiya, Yemen, Yukon, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Trifolium

Propagation: Seed
Pest resistance: Generally pest-free
Disease resistance: Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to plant Trifolium?

Trifolium prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.

What soil does Trifolium need?

Trifolium is adaptable and grows happily in most soil types, including chalk, clay, loam and sand. It is happy in soil of any pH. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained to well-drained.

Is Trifolium hardy in the UK?

Trifolium has an RHS hardiness rating of H7, meaning it is fully hardy throughout the UK, tolerating temperatures below -20°C.

How do I propagate Trifolium?

Seed.

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