Trifolium repens
White clover
How do you recognise white clover?
A trailing herb that spreads across the ground on runners. The leaves sit at the end of a 3–5 cm stalk and are usually made of three heart- or teardrop-shaped leaflets. The flower head is round, white or faintly pink, and a couple of centimetres across.
What is it confused with?
Red clover grows taller and more upright with a red head. Wood sorrel has thinner leaflets and carries a single white flower rather than a round head.
Where does white clover grow, and when does it flower?
White clover grows on lawns, roadsides, pastures, and path edges throughout the country. Its trailing habit makes it resistant to trampling. Flowering runs from June to August.
Can you collect it for a herbarium?
White clover grows on almost every lawn and may be collected freely.
Did you know?
The runners root as they go, so one plant can cover a wide patch and survive mowing. The head smells sweet and is an important nectar source for bees.
Where does white clover grow in Finland?
The map shows where the species has been recorded. Darker squares mean more observations.
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Observations: GBIF · Map: CARTO, OpenStreetMap
Sources: fi.wikipedia.org
Identify plants with your phone
Linnea identifies a plant from a photo and tells you its name and its story. Every find takes its own numbered place in your herbarium, with the day and the town where you found it.
