Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campestre) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,222 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from March to June, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Hop Trefoil: observations by month (U.S.)
About Hop Trefoil
Trifolium campestre, commonly known as hop trefoil, field clover and low hop clover, is a species of clover native to Europe and western Asia, growing in dry, sandy grassland habitats, fields, woodland margins, roadsides, wastelands and cultivated land. The species name campestre means "of the fields".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Hop Trefoil by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 625 | April | Mar–May |
| Kentucky | 146 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 118 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Mississippi | 110 | April | Mar–May |
| Maine | 102 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Maryland | 101 | May | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 94 | May | May–Jun |
| Texas | 93 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Vermont | 90 | July | Jul–Aug |
| Georgia | 82 | April | Mar–May |
| Ohio | 73 | June | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 60 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Alabama | 58 | April | Mar–May |
| Pennsylvania | 55 | June | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 53 | May | May–May |
| New York | 41 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Arkansas | 39 | April | Apr–May |
| Florida | 31 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 28 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Oklahoma | 26 | April | Apr–Jun |
| New Jersey | 21 | June | May–Jun |
| Illinois | 19 | June | May–Jun |
| Washington | 19 | June | May–Jun |
| Minnesota | 18 | July | Jun–Aug |
| South Carolina | 18 | April | Mar–May |
| New Hampshire | 16 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Delaware | 15 | May | May–Jun |
| Indiana | 14 | May | May–Jun |
| West Virginia | 11 | June | May–Jul |
| Michigan | 10 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Kansas | 8 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Louisiana | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
| South Dakota | 5 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 5 | June | Jun–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hop Trefoil?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Hop Trefoil most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Kentucky, North Carolina.