Plant guide

Clover.

Trifolium

Pronounced try-FOH-lee-um

Also known as Clover, Clovers

Trifolium incarnatum — Photo by Juan Carlos Caicedo Hernández (CC BY) via iNaturalist

Clover is a charming, low growing plant often found in meadows and lawns. It is well known for its three part leaves and small, rounded flower heads. These plants are great for supporting local pollinators in your garden.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches
Growth rate: Fast

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to encourage lush growth. Watch for wilting during dry spells, which is a clear sign the plant needs a drink. Ensure it gets plenty of sun to keep the stems from becoming leggy.

Watering: Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer sparingly during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back spent flower heads to encourage new blooms and keep the plant tidy.
Repotting: Repot if the plant becomes root bound or if the soil loses its structure.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0

Safety

Pets: Clover is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.

How to identify it

Distinctive three part compound leaves
Small dense flower heads
Low growing herbaceous habit
Often features white V shaped markings

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Science

Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Trifolium
Order: Fabales
Class: Magnoliopsida

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Keep your clover growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on November 7, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.