Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Trifolium willdenovii, with the common name Tomcat Clover, is a species in the Pea family (Fabaceae). This annual plant is native to most of California except the deserts. It grows in the coastal through inland foothills and mountain ranges, interior valleys, and coastal regions. The 20 native plant communities it is found in include coniferous forest, oak woodland, chaparral, and grassland.

Tomcat Clover is a low-growing annual clover that makes a colorful seasonal ground cover. It can be good for filling in garden spaces between maturing native shrubs, perennials, or bunch grasses. It flowers in spring, and can reseed abundantly. This clover's lavender to purple flowers attract bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds.

Plant type

Annual herb

Calscape icon
Color

Lavender

Flowering season

Spring

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low, Moderate, High

Summer irrigation

Max 2x / month once established

Ease of care

Easy

Soil drainage

Medium, Slow

Soil description

clay tolerant.

Sunset Zones

1, 2, 3, 5*, 6*, 7*, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Diverse plant communities and disturbed places.

Plant communities

Chaparral, Foothill Woodland, Valley Grassland, Yellow Pine Forest

Bats
Bees
Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 69 likely

Confirmed Likely

Garden Webworm Moth

Achyra rantalis

Fingered Dagger Moth

Acronicta dactylina

Ipsilon Dart

Agrotis ipsilon

Vancouver Dart Moth

Agrotis vancouverensis