Dutch clover (Trifolium repens, Sp. Pl.: 767 (1753))

Family: Fabaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 767 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Trifolium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, NW. Africa, Egypt to Zimbabwe, Europe to Mongolia and Himalaya

Description

Dutch clover, scientifically known as Trifolium repens, is a species of the Fabaceae family. This herbaceous plant, also commonly referred to as white clover, is notable for its trifoliate leaf structure, characterized by its three green, heart-shaped leaflets often decorated with a white, crescent-shaped mark. It was first described in the botanical literature in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his work “Species Plantarum.”

Widely recognized for its hardiness and resilience, Dutch clover exhibits a widespread geographical distribution. It thrives in varied climatic conditions, extending from the Macaronesian islands and northwestern Africa, continuing through Egypt, and further south to Zimbabwe. In the northern hemisphere, it proliferates across Europe and reaches as far as Mongolia and the Himalayan region. This vast distribution is a testament to its adaptability and robustness.

Dutch clover is not only valued for its ecological benefits but also for its agricultural applications. As a member of the Fabaceae family, it forms a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enriching the soil and enhancing pasture quality. This natural fertilizing property makes it an important component in sustainable farming practices, particularly in crop rotations and green manuring.

Dutch clover’s lush foliage provides a rich source of nutrition for grazing animals, while its dense, mat-forming growth habit prevents soil erosion and improves soil structure. In addition to its utility in agriculture, it serves aesthetic and recreational purposes, often integrated into lawns and green spaces for its pleasant appearance and resilience to foot traffic.

In summary, Dutch clover (Trifolium repens) stands out as a versatile and valuable plant species with a wide geographical spread and significant ecological and agricultural benefits. Its presence across multiple continents underscores its adaptability and importance in promoting environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.

Common Names

Eng: dutch clover, ladino clover, white clover, white dutch clover, creeping white clover, wild white clover
Dan: hvid-kløver
Deu: kriechender klee, weiß-klee, weiss-klee, weiß-klee, weißklee
Nor: hvidkol, soudsimmer
Nob: hvitkløver
Nno: kvitkløver
Por: trevo-branco
Cat: trevolet de prat
Ita: trifoglio bianco, trifoglio ladino
Fra: trèfle blanc, trèfle rampant, coucou
Spa: trébol blanco
Fin: valkoapila
Swe: valkoapila, vitklöver
Nld: witte klaver
Sme: vilgesluovvar
Cym: bara caws y defaid, maillgwyn, meillion gwyn, meillion rhedegog, meillionen olwen, meillionen wen, meillionen wen y waun, millfeillionen
En: Dutch clover, White Dutch clover, White clover, Ladino clover, White trefoil, Wild White Clover, Ladino, Creeping white clover, Dutchclover, Honeysuckle Clover, Tr≠bol Amargo, Giant clover
Af: Witklawer
Ar: قداب (قَدَاب)، جدوب (جَدّوب), قرط (قُرط)، قدب (قَدْب)، قرض (قَرَض), نفل أبيض, نفل ابيض, نفل زاحف
Hy: Երեքնուկ սողացող
Az: Ağ yonca
Ba: Аҡ туҡыранбаш
Eu: Hirusta zuri
Be: Канюшына паўзучая
Bn: তামার্কে
Bg: Бяла детелина, Пълзяща детелина
Ca: Trèvol blanc, Trevolet de prat, Trifolium repent
Zh: Bai che zhou cao, 白三叶, 白三叶草, 白三草, 白三葉, 白三葉草, 白花三叶草, 白花三葉草, 白車軸草, 白车轴草, 菽草
Kw: Mellyonen wynn
Cs: Jetel bílý plazivý, Jetel plazivý
Da: Hvid Kløver, Hvid-Kløver, Hvidkløver
Nl: Witte klaver
Et: Amoria repens, Valge ristik
Fi: Valkoapila
Fr: Trèfle blanc, Trèfle rampant, Trefle Blanc, Trèfle de Hollande, Coucou
Gl: Trevo branco
Ka: Სამყურა მხოხავი
De: Weißklee, Weiss-Klee, Kriech-Klee, Kriechender Klee, Weissklee, Weiß-Klee, Kriechender Klee, Weiß-Klee, Kriechender Weiß-Klee, Kriechklee, Lämmer-Klee, Stein Klee, Weißer Wiesen-Klee, Kriechender Weiss-Klee
El: Λευκό τριφύλλι
He: תלתן זוחל
Hu: Fehér here, Fehérhere
Is: Hvítsmári
Ga: Seamair bhán
It: Trifoglio bianco, Trifoglio ladino, Trigolio ladino, Trifoglio rampicante
Ky: Кой беде
Ko: Tokkipul, Keuroba, 토끼풀, 흰토끼풀
Lv: Ložņu āboliņš
Lt: Baltasis dobilas
Mk: Бела детелина
Nv: Tłʼoh waaʼí nahalinígíí
Se: Vilgesluovvar
No: Hvitkløver, Kvitkløver, Hvidkol, Soudsimmer
Nb: Hvitkløver
Nn: Kvitkløver
Os: Тæрхъусгæрдæг
Fa: شبدر سفید
Pl: Koniczyna biała, Koniczyna rozesłana
Pt: Trevo-branco
Ru: Белая кашка, Кашка, Клевер белый, Клевер голландский, Клевер ползучий
Sr: Бела детелина, Бијела дјетелина, Детелина бела, Детелина пузећа, Дјетелина бијела, Дјетелина пузећа, Пузећа детелина, Пузећа дјетелина
Sk: Ďatelina plazivá
Es: Trébol blanco, Plazeča detelja, Carretón, Chupamieles, Chupón, Motas blancas, Teble, Trebillo, Trebolillo marfuelle, Trebolillo, Tribulillo, Trébol bravo, Trébol de los prados con flor blanca, Trébol de prados, Trébol manchado, Trébol pratense que hace las flores blancas, Trébol rastrero blanco, Trébol rastrero, Trébol silvestre, Trébol, Trébole blanco, Trébol amargo, Trébol de Holanda, Trifolium repens, Casuarius Brisson 1760, Trebol
Sv: Vitklöver, Valkoapila
Zh-tw: 白三葉草
Tt: Ак тукранбаш
Zh-hant: 白三葉草
Tr: Ak üçgül
Uk: Конюшина біла, Конюшина повзуча
Cy: Meillionen wen, Bara Caws y Defaid, Maillgwyn, Meillion Gwyn, Meillion Rhedegog, Meillionen Olwen, Meillionen Wen y Waun, Millfeillionen

Synonyms

• Trifolium repens var. maculatum (Neuman)
• Amoria repens ((L.) C.Presl)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Føroyar (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iceland (native)
• India (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kenya (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Aleutian Is. (introduced)
• Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Antipodean Is. (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Bahamas (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Chatham Is. (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Chile North (introduced)
• Chita (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Crozet Is. (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Easter Is. (introduced)
• Ecuador (introduced)
• Falkland Is. (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Kamchatka (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kerguelen (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Kuril Is. (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Labrador (introduced)
• Magadan (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• Nansei-shoto (introduced)
• Nevada (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Panamá (introduced)
• Peru (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• South Georgia (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Texas (introduced)
• Tristan da Cunha (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Yakutskiya (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Apr 8, 2018 by Patrick TARDIVON (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 23, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2021 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 25, 2017 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 18, 2017 by Roberto Dessì (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Mar 17, 2017 by damiano damiano (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2017 by Diego Bordon (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 28, 2018 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 19, 2021 by Terje Norli (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 9, 2022 by Robin Titz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2021 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 11, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 26, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jul 17, 2022 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 17, 2021 by Malte (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 10, 2022 by Raúl (Este Madrid) (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2014 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Apr 30, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 5, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 29, 2020 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 13, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 22, 2022 by 𝟙𝔻 𝕕𝕔𝕘𝕥 (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 29, 2019 by Pierre Sosson (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2018 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 11, 2019 by Enno Huttenga (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 12, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5358748)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:523626-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Trifolium repens L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Stoloniferous

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth rate: Moderate

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.0

Ph minimum: 6.0

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Soil nutriments: 6

Soil salinity: 1