Flower profile

Alsike clover

Trifolium hybridum

Alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum) is a flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–August across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Alsike clover is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.

49states where USDA records it

2Bloomipedia state lists include it

8,287U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska, Wyoming

Quick look

Trifolium hybridum, the alsike clover, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae. The trifoliate leaves are unmarked and the stalked, pale pink or whitish flower head grows from the leaf axils.
From Wikipedia's article Trifolium hybridum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Fabaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 49 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Alaska and Wyoming. ^NatureServe
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 458 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #92 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 376 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #75 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,134 records)

Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Alaska	Introduced	few records (24)	458
Wyoming	Introduced	few records (32)	376

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe
Alaska: No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Alaska.
Wyoming: No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Wyoming.
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleToxic (slight, per USDA)

USDA PLANTS rates its toxicity as “slight.” (USDA's rating covers people and livestock and doesn't say which parts.) ^{USDA PLANTS}

For petsToxic to horses

ASPCA's entry “Alsike Clover” (Trifolium hybridum) lists it as toxic to horses. Signs include: "Dew poisoning" - sunburn, skin ulcers; "Big liver disease" - liver failure Credit: Margaret Williams @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS… ^ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records alsike clover in 49 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Anchorage, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, Nome, Southeast Fairbanks, Yukon-Koyukuk.

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Crook, Fremont, Johnson, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Teton, Weston.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Alsike clover a high shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.6 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: Low
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.6 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 50
Annual precipitation range: 26 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth: 12 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Short
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for TRHY. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Introduced; Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Introduced.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Trifolium elegans.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1134 counties across 47 states; the most are in Illinois (102), Virginia (66), Pennsylvania (65).

Other Trifolium on Bloomipedia (7): White clover, Red clover, Hop trefoil, Rabbitfoot clover, Rose clover, Tomcat clover, Reversed clover.

More from the Fabaceae family (114 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Lupines, Eastern redbud, Purple crownvetch, Bird's-foot trefoil, Partridge pea, White sweetclover, Common vetch, Honey mesquite.

More Alaska flowers

Nootka lupine

Lupinus nootkatensis

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–July

Seaside pea

Lathyrus japonicus

Native

🌼 Blooms in AK: June–July

Alpine sweet-vetch

Hedysarum alpinum

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AK

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TRHY.
iNaturalist, Trifolium hybridum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Trifolium hybridum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Alaska: Alaska prohibited and restricted noxious weeds (11 AAC 34.020).
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Trifolium hybridum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: USDA PLANTS; ASPCA.
Photo: stephen via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.