Trifolium wormskioldii

Common Names

Cow Clover, Springbank Clover, Coast Clover, Sand Clover, Seaside Clover, Wormskjold's Clover, Saltmarsh Clover, Sierra Clover, Cows Clover, Clover

Summary

Cow clover is a western North American native herb with a creeping rhizome and stems that are decumbent to erect, forming a low, evergreen ground cover; trifoliate leaves and dense pinkish-purple to magenta flower heads with white tips create a distinctive, showy display that attracts bees.

In cultivation, it prefers moist, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade and can serve as a durable ground cover or for erosion control, spreading by creeping rhizomes to form dense patches; it fixes nitrogen, supports pollinators, and has edible leaves, flowers, and rhizomes, with propagation by seed or rhizomes.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-12 inches

Spread

1-2 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates light shade; suitable from partial sun to partial shade

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained circum-neutral soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.2-7

Bloom Color

Pink, red, or purple (often with white tips).

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds