Flower profile

Tomcat clover

Trifolium willdenovii

Tomcat clover (Trifolium willdenovii) is a flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–May across the U.S.

Native to California

Tomcat clover is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In California it's most often seen in bloom in March–May.

5states where USDA records it

9,340CA sightings*

10,113U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: California

Quick look

Trifolium willdenovii, the tomcat clover, is a species of plant in the pea family Fabaceae. This species occurs in the western part of North America. As an example occurrence, it is found in the California Coast Ranges in such places as Ring Mountain, California, where it is found in association with cup clover.
From Wikipedia's article Trifolium willdenovii, 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 native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to California. ^NatureServe
In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 9,340 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #99 among the 178 flowers on our California list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In California, most flowering sightings come in March–May.

Flowering records by month in California (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (5,731 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
California: Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. ^{CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)}
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 page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. For context only: ASPCA lists a related species, Trifolium hybridum (“Alsike Clover”), as non-toxic to dogs and cats. That doesn't tell us about this species, so keep pets away to be safe. ^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 tomcat clover in 5 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.

California counties with USDA records: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Kern, Kings, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Trifolium tridentatum, Trifolium willdenowii.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 88 counties across 5 states; the most are in California (50), Washington (17), Oregon (15).

Other Trifolium on Bloomipedia (7): White clover, Red clover, Hop trefoil, Rabbitfoot clover, Rose 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 California flowers

Deerweed

Acmispon glaber

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: March–June

Pacific pea

Lathyrus vestitus

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: February–May

Rose clover

Trifolium hirtum

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CA: March–May

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile TRWI3.
iNaturalist, Trifolium willdenovii: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Trifolium willdenovii (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Trifolium willdenovii (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.