Lesser hop trefoil (Trifolium dubium) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,278 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 Lesser hop trefoil: observations by month (U.S.)
About Lesser hop trefoil
Trifolium dubium, the lesser trefoil, suckling clover, little hop clover or lesser hop trefoil, is a flowering plant in the pea and clover family Fabaceae. This species is generally accepted as the primary plant to represent the traditional Irish shamrock.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Lesser hop trefoil by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1,088 | April | Mar–May |
| Oregon | 185 | May | May–Jun |
| Washington | 156 | May | May–Jun |
| Mississippi | 120 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Maryland | 78 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 72 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 72 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 62 | April | Mar–May |
| Virginia | 61 | May | Apr–May |
| New Jersey | 45 | May | May–Jun |
| Alabama | 42 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 39 | May | May–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 28 | June | May–Jun |
| Arkansas | 26 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 23 | May | May–Jun |
| Delaware | 21 | May | May–May |
| South Carolina | 19 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Texas | 19 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Connecticut | 17 | May | May–Jun |
| Tennessee | 16 | May | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 15 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 12 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Michigan | 11 | June | May–Jul |
| Florida | 9 | March | Feb–Mar |
| West Virginia | 8 | June | Jun–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 5 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Indiana | 5 | June | May–Jun |
| Rhode Island | 5 | May | May–Jul |
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 Lesser hop trefoil?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to June.
Where is Lesser hop trefoil most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Oregon, Washington.