Common Name: Whitetip Clover

General Information

Trifolium variegatum is an ascending or decumbent annual plant, usually with several stems; it can grow 10 - 60cm tall[].
The plant was a traditional food of the native N. Americans and was commonly harvested from the wild for local use - it it still often harvested and remains a favourite wild food[].

Known Hazards

Eating this plant can cause bloat, especially if larger quantities are consumed[].

Botanical References

Range

Western N. America - British Columbia and Washington to Montana, south to California, Arizona and Baja California

Habitat

Dry sandy soils to moist meadows[]. Moist places; at elevations up to 2,400 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Trifolium variegatum is a plant of the temperate zone. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 14 - 19°c, but can tolerate 6 - 25°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about °-5c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 560 - 1,300mm[].
Succeeds in a moist, well-drained circum-neutral soil, preferring a position in full sun but tolerating light shade[, ]. Succeeds in poor soils[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 6.5, tolerating 5.5 - 7[].
It grows well in an apple orchard, the trees will produce tastier fruit that stores better[]. It should not be grown with camellias or gooseberries because it harbours a mite that can cause fruit drop in the gooseberries and premature budding in the camellias[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[]. Buttercups growing nearby depress the growth of the nitrogen bacteria by means of a root exudate[]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , ]. They can be used as greens[]. Generally eaten before the plant comes into flower. Eating larger quantities can cause bloat - traditionally, the leaves were eaten with other foods that aid in digestion and therefore prevent bloating[].

Flowers - raw[]. A sweet flavour[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in spring in situ.
If the seed is in short supply it might be better to sow it in pots in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring.