Trifolium dubium
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Trifolium minus var. microphyllum
- Phonetic Spelling
- try-FOH-lee-um DOO-bee-um
- Description
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Lesser Trefoil is an annual weed in the bean family found all over the world in disturbed sites, roadsides, meadows, and lawns. It is a legume so it fixes nitrogen in the soil. This plant is what is commonly used as the inspiration for the Irish Shamrock. Tiny yellow flowers attract bees to their nectar from late spring to early fall. It can be used for animal forage, it will often be seen in lawns where it handles foot traffic and mowing well.
Although this plant can cause issues with some plants, (see below), with others it can be beneficial. When grown in an apple orchard the fruits produced can be tastier.
The flowers grow in the form of a raceme and sit atop a long stalk. Each raceme will contain 3 to 15 flowers
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This plant cannot grow in the shade. It should not be planted near camellias or gooseberries. It harbors a mite that may lead to fruit drop for the gooseberries and premature budding on your camellias. Considered to be invasive in some states.
- 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:
- dubium
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Macronesia, Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant supports Clouded Sulfur (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. Flowers are pollinated by bees.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Dry does not split open when ripe. Each contains 1 seed that will remain inside the calyx.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Yellow flowers appear May-October and are self fertile as they have both male and female parts. As they age, they take on a yellowish-brown color. Each flower has 5 petals, while 3 to 15 flowers will bloom on the raceme.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- 2 to 3 leaflets with slightly curved margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The then stem is limp or ascending with few hairs. It can lay along the ground or be erect.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Foot Traffic
- Poor Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy
