Flower profile

Rabbitfoot clover

Trifolium arvense

Rabbitfoot clover (Trifolium arvense) 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

Rabbitfoot clover is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–August.

41states where USDA records it

4Bloomipedia state lists include it

14,125U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island

Quick look

Trifolium arvense, commonly known as the hare's-foot clover, rabbitfoot clover, stone clover or oldfield clover, is a flowering plant in the bean family, Fabaceae. It is native to Europe.
From Wikipedia's article Trifolium arvense, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Fabaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 41 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as not native to Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Delaware. ^NatureServe
In Massachusetts, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. ^iNaturalist
In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in July–September. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,718 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #88 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,371 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #45 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 195 research-grade sightings of it in Rhode Island, ranking #86 among the 164 flowers on our Rhode Island list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,266 records)

Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Massachusetts	Introduced	June–August	1,718
Maine	Introduced	July–September	1,371
Rhode Island	Introduced	few records (5)	195
Delaware	Introduced	few records (14)	147

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

State rare plant lists

Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 4 states.

See each state

Massachusetts: Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. ^{MESA list}
Maine: Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maine. ^{Maine rare plant list}
Rhode Island: Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Rhode Island. ^{RI rare plants 2016}
Delaware: Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Delaware. ^{DE rare plants 2024}

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 peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsCan be a problem for horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. ^{NC State Extension}

🌿 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 rabbitfoot clover in 41 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

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

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

Rhode Island counties with USDA records: Bristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Hawaii: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Introduced; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Waif (occasional, not established).

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 659 counties across 39 states; the most are in Virginia (83), North Carolina (67), Arkansas (39).

Other Trifolium on Bloomipedia (7): White clover, Red clover, Hop trefoil, Rose clover, Tomcat clover, Alsike 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 Massachusetts flowers

Red clover

Trifolium pratense

★ VT state flowerIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–September

White clover

Trifolium repens

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: May–September

Purple crownvetch

Securigera varia

★ PA state beautification and conservation plantIntroduced

🌼 Blooms in MA: June–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TRAR4.
iNaturalist, Trifolium arvense: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Trifolium arvense (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90).
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List (MDAR) (Text from MDAR's 2023 scientific-name PDF (mass.gov blocks automated downloads); 2024-2026 additions listed on the mass.gov page: Alnus glutinosa, Pyrus calleryana, Miscanthus sinensis, Aralia elata, Rhodotypos scandens, Symplocos paniculata.).
Maine: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories.
Maine: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273).
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law).
Delaware: Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list).
Delaware: Delaware Invasive Plant List (3 Del. Admin. Code § 806-3.0).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Trifolium arvense (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Jay Pruett via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.