Trifolium reflexum or Buffalo Clover is a North Carolina native perennial in the bean family. A rare plant that was once abundant, it has seen a strong decline in the past few decades. In North Carolina, it has been given a State Threatened status. On the rare occasions that it is located, it is seldom in large stands. It tends to become shaded out by taller species as well as declining for no apparent reason. Its natural habitat includes open woodlands, woodland edges, and other dry shady locations. While wildfires may damage some plants, prescribed burning in some locations have stimulated the germination of pre-existing seed banks as well as creating an ideal seedbed for the seeds to establish themselves. It is often confused with Trifolium pratense (Alsike Clover). One distinguishing feature is the flower head of Buffalo Clover sits well above the leaves, where the head of Alsike Clover appears to be resting on the leaves. Also, during and shortly after flowering, the lower portion of the flowers of Buffalo Clover hang downward or droop. This gives the flowers a two parted cluster, an erect top and a drooping lower half, leading to the botanical identification of reflexum. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Entire; Serrate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are attached to the stem by long petioles, up to 2" long. The 3 leaflets are elliptical and have rounded tips.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy; White
Flower form
Head; Umbel
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Red and white flowers petal on each flower. The flower is up to 1.25" across and bloom from April to May. The keel petal is red, while the wing petals are white. This gives the flower a pinkish look.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit type
Legume
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruits display from May to July. They are ovoid to oblong-obovoid with minute stalks. Each contain 2 to 4 seeds.
Stem color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Stem detail
The stems are typically ascending and do not root at the lower nodes. They may have a few branches, but generally are unbranched towards the base. In strong sun the stem will have a purplish color. Mostly glabrous, but may have dense short hairs.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and eastern U.S.A.
Distribution
AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NE, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
Wildlife value
This plant supports Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) larvae which appear from May to October in the North and from March to November in the South. There are 3 flights in the North and 4 to 5 flights in the South. Adult Clouded Sulfur butterflies feed on flower nectar from many different plants. This plant also supports Eastern Tailed-Blue (Everes comyntas) which has many broods from February-November, Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), and Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) larvae which broods a little earlier than May-July.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds