Hop Trefoil
Trifolium campestre
Also listed as Chrysaspis campestris, Amarenus campestris
Also known as Hop Clover, Low Hop Clover, Field Clover
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing annual legume with small clover-like leaves and tiny yellow flowers arranged in dense heads. Commonly found in dry grasslands and disturbed areas, it tolerates poor soil and drought.
Why grow it
Hop trefoil establishes quickly in poor or compacted soils where larger clovers struggle, making it useful for rapid ground cover or erosion control on marginal land. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it contributes to soil improvement faster than non-leguminous pioneer species, though it typically persists for only one season. It requires less moisture and fertility than common clover species, suiting drier microclimates or low-input settings.
Watch out for
Because this annual reseeds readily, monitor it in perennial plantings if you wish to prevent self-sowing in subsequent years. In areas with regular summer irrigation, it may persist longer than expected and outcompete slower-establishing neighbors during establishment phases.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing annual legume with small clover-like leaves and tiny yellow flowers arranged in dense heads. Commonly found in dry grasslands and disturbed areas, it tolerates poor soil and drought.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Hop Trefoil grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Hop trefoil establishes quickly in poor or compacted soils where larger clovers struggle, making it useful for rapid ground cover or erosion control on marginal land. As a nitrogen-fixing legume, it contributes to soil improvement faster than non-leguminous pioneer species, though it typically persists for only one season. It requires less moisture and fertility than common clover species, suiting drier microclimates or low-input settings.
Watch out for
Because this annual reseeds readily, monitor it in perennial plantings if you wish to prevent self-sowing in subsequent years. In areas with regular summer irrigation, it may persist longer than expected and outcompete slower-establishing neighbors during establishment phases.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean and Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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