Dutch Clover (Trifolium repens)

Trifolium repens is known as Dutch Clover, White Clover, White Dutch Clover or Ladino Clover. It’s not a plant that is easily misidentified. It’s worth noting, however, that another clover - the Arrowleaf Clover (Trifolium vesiculosum) that has an ‘elongated’ flower and pointed, arrow-shaped, leaves – grows in southern states including Georgia. As with the Low Hop Clover (Trifolium campestre), the Dutch Clover flower head is composed of many small, individual, exquisite flowerlets. The flowerlets open from the bottom to the top of the head.

A small patch of Dutch Clover. It’s not unusual to see fields of this clover. It’s sometimes used as a ground cover when crop fields are left fallow. Dutch Clover, whose roots are infected with certain bacteria, will fix atmospheric nitrogen and rebuild nutrients in the soil.

Some flowers have a red or pinkish tinge.

Others are pure white

The flowerlets at the bottom of the head are going to seed.

The leaves have the characteristic, compound shamrock configuration.

Trifolium repens is native to Eurasia. It grows throughout the United States and Canada.
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Distribution Map:
United States Department of Agriculture Plants Database:
- Trifolium repens (White Clover)
- Trifolium vesiculosum (Arrowleaf Clover)

Identification resources:
- Southeastern Flora: Dutch Clover (Trifolium repens)
- Missouri Plants: Trifolium repens
- Southeastern Flora: Arrowleaf Clover (Trifolium vesiculosum)

Related posts:
- 2010: Year Of The Wildflower
- Low Hop Clover (Trifolium campestre)