Buffalo Clover Trifolium reflexum
Previously known as:
- Trifolium reflexum var. glabrum
- Phonetic Spelling
- try-FOH-lee-um
- Description
-
Trifolium reflexum or Buffalo Clover is a North Carolina native perennial in the bean family. A rare plant that was once abundant, it has seen a strong decline in the past few decades. In North Carolina, it has been given a State Threatened status. On the rare occasions that it is located, it is seldom in large stands. It tends to become shaded out by taller species as well as declining for no apparent reason.
Its natural habitat includes open woodlands, woodland edges, and other dry shady locations. While wildfires may damage some plants, prescribed burning in some locations have stimulated the germination of pre-existing seed banks as well as creating an ideal seedbed for the seeds to establish themselves.
It is often confused with Trifolium pratense (Alsike Clover). One distinguishing feature is the flower head of Buffalo Clover sits well above the leaves, where the head of Alsike Clover appears to be resting on the leaves. Also, during and shortly after flowering, the lower portion of the flowers of Buffalo Clover hang downward or droop. This gives the flowers a two parted cluster, an erect top and a drooping lower half, leading to the botanical identification of reflexum.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Trifolium
- Species:
- reflexum
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Biennial
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and eastern U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NE, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- 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
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
-
-
Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits display from May to July. They are ovoid to oblong-obovoid with minute stalks. Each contain 2 to 4 seeds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Red and white flowers petal on each flower. The flower is up to 1.25" across and bloom from April to May. The keel petal is red, while the wing petals are white. This gives the flower a pinkish look.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are attached to the stem by long petioles, up to 2" long. The 3 leaflets are elliptical and have rounded tips.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stems are typically ascending and do not root at the lower nodes. They may have a few branches, but generally are unbranched towards the base. In strong sun the stem will have a purplish color. Mostly glabrous, but may have dense short hairs.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
