Wild White Clover Trifolium carolinianum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Trifolium saxicola
- Phonetic Spelling
- try-FOH-lee-um kair-oh-lin-ee-AN-um
- Description
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Trifolium carolinianum, or Carolina Clover is a native wildflower that is typically found growing in lawns, along roadsides, in cemeteries and in thin, sandy pine or scrub oak woods.
Tiny white/purplish flowers are held above the foliage. They are said to be papilionaceous, resembling a butterfly.
It is often confused with White Clover.
Although a native of coastal North Carolina, it has not been spotted for an extended period of time. The closest location where it can be seen growing is in South Carolina, near the North Carolina border.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: This wildflower self-sows. It can be controlled by deadheading.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Trifolium
- Species:
- carolinianum
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and southeastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KS, LA, MO, MS, NC, OK, PA, SC, TX, VA, VT
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) larvae which appear from May to October in the North and from March to November in the South. There are 3 flights in the North and 4 to 5 flights in the South. Adult Clouded Sulfur butterflies feed on flower nectar from many different plants. This plant also supports Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas) which has many broods from February-November, Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) larvae which broods a little earlier than May-July.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a legume that is enclosed by the calyx tube. It will appear soon after the flowers are no longer blooming.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White flowers with a purplish tint sit above the foliage.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The veined, green leaves are tiny, only 1/4" long and 1/5" wide. The outer half of the leaf is serrated.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems can range from 3-11 inches. They are very slender and wiry.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
