Lesser Hop Trefoil
Trifolium dubium
Also listed as Trifolium minus, Amarenus flavus
Also known as Little Hop Clover, Lesser Trefoil, Suckling Clover
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing annual or winter annual clover with small yellow flower heads, commonly found in meadows and grasslands. It is a nitrogen-fixing legume that tolerates poor soils and is often used as a cover crop or forage plant.
Why grow it
Lesser hop trefoil is a compact nitrogen-fixing legume better suited to sparse, degraded soils than many clover species, making it useful for quick soil improvement in marginal areas. Its small stature and modest nutrient demands mean it requires less management than larger clovers while still delivering reasonable forage or green manure value. It establishes readily from seed and persists through winter in temperate climates, offering flexible timing for integration into rotation systems.
Watch out for
This species can self-seed prolifically in disturbed or bare ground, so timing of incorporation or mowing is important if you want to prevent unintended spread into adjoining areas. Performance varies considerably with rainfall and soil moisture, so it may peter out quickly in dry seasons or heavy clay without supplemental water or soil amendment.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
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 or winter annual clover with small yellow flower heads, commonly found in meadows and grasslands. It is a nitrogen-fixing legume that tolerates poor soils and is often used as a cover crop or forage plant.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Lesser 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
Lesser hop trefoil is a compact nitrogen-fixing legume better suited to sparse, degraded soils than many clover species, making it useful for quick soil improvement in marginal areas. Its small stature and modest nutrient demands mean it requires less management than larger clovers while still delivering reasonable forage or green manure value. It establishes readily from seed and persists through winter in temperate climates, offering flexible timing for integration into rotation systems.
Watch out for
This species can self-seed prolifically in disturbed or bare ground, so timing of incorporation or mowing is important if you want to prevent unintended spread into adjoining areas. Performance varies considerably with rainfall and soil moisture, so it may peter out quickly in dry seasons or heavy clay without supplemental water or soil amendment.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
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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