Lesser trefoil.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Facile

Type de plante

Annual herb

Lumière

Full sun to partial shade

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les 3 à 7 jours

Taille adulte

6 to 12 inches

Croissance

Rapide

Rusticité

USDA 4 à 9

Floraison

Late spring to early autumn

Entretien

This plant thrives in sunny spots with well draining soil. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the soil is staying too wet. It is a hardy grower that rarely needs much fussing.

Arrosage

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Engrais

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the active growing season.

Taille

Trim back leggy growth to encourage a bushier appearance.

Rempotage

Repot if the plant becomes root bound or if the soil loses its structure.

Sol

Well draining, sandy or loamy soil

pH du sol

6.0 to 7.5

Température

-10 à 30°C

Humidité

40 à 80%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Moyenne

Durée de vie

Annual, typically 1 year

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

It is generally considered non toxic to humans.

Enfants

There are no specific safety concerns for children, though standard caution regarding plant ingestion applies.

Allergènes de contact

There are no known significant skin irritants associated with this plant.

Allergènes aéroportés

The pollen may cause mild seasonal allergies in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilité

While not toxic, it is rarely consumed and may cause digestive upset if eaten in large quantities.

Comment l'identifier

• Three small, heart shaped leaflets
• Tiny clusters of yellow flowers
• Slender, trailing stems
• Small, oval shaped stipules

Hauteur

0,05 à 0,3m

Envergure

0,1 à 0,4m

Feuilles

green, deciduous

Fleurs

yellow, 0,3 à 0,6cm

Fruits

brown, Late summer

Problèmes courants

• Powdery mildew — A fungal infection that appears as a white, dusty coating on the leaves.

La cultiver

Multiplication

seed

Quand planter

spring, autumn

Hivernage

As an annual, it completes its life cycle and dies back in winter, leaving seeds in the soil to germinate the following spring.

En pot

It is not typically grown in containers as it is a low growing ground cover that prefers open ground.

Allow it to grow among grasses to naturally boost soil nitrogen levels without synthetic fertilizers.

Bonnes associations

• Poa pratensis — They grow well together in lawns and the clover provides nitrogen for the grass.
• Pissenlit — Both species thrive in similar disturbed soil conditions.

Espèces similaires

• Trèfle blanc — It is a larger, perennial relative with white flowers.
• Trifolium campestre — It looks very similar but has larger flower heads.

Science

Famille

Fabaceae

Genre

Trifolium

Ordre

Fabales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Europe and western Asia.

Préservation

It is a common, widespread species and is not of conservation concern.

It acts as a pioneer species in disturbed habitats, enriching the soil through symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Intérêt pour la faune

nectar source, nitrogen fixation

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons

Utilisations

ground cover, soil improvement, forage

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Is this a weed?

It is often considered a weed in manicured lawns, but it provides good nitrogen fixation for soil.

Does it need much water?

It prefers consistent moisture but can tolerate short dry spells once established.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name Trifolium refers to the three leaflets, while the species name dubium means doubtful, likely referring to its similarity to other clover species.

Bon à savoir

• It is commonly known as suckling clover.
• It is an annual plant that spreads readily by seed.
• It thrives in disturbed soils and lawns.
• It is native to Europe and western Asia but has naturalized globally.