Spanish Clover Seeds (Acmispon americanus)

Subtle, and low-growing, Spanish clover isn’t a wildflower that gets a lot of attention, but this mounding annual legume is an under-acknowledged bee attractor!

Tolerant of dry conditions, with long-lasting spring through summer flowers, a long list of wild bees can be found among the delicate pink-white pea-flowers of this plant, including: the golden state bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), the yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), the prickly ceratin (Ceratina acantha), Erhorn’s resin bee (Anthidiellum erhorni), the Utah wool-carder (Anthidium utahense), the elderberry mason bee (Hoplitis sambuci), the northern resin Bee (Anthidiellum notatum), the Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee (Megachile rotundata)… and numerous wild bees with no common names: Melissodes tepida, Perdita trisignata, Anthidium collectum, Anthidium edwardsii, Anthidium illustre, Anthidium jocusum, Anthidium mormonum, Ashmeadiella aridula astragli, Ashmeadiella cactorum. Ashmeadiella californica, Ashmeadiella timberlakei, Dianthidium dubium, Dianthidium pudicum, Hoplitis howardi, Hoplitis hypocrite, Megachile angelarum, Megachile brevis, Megachile coquilletti, Megachile gentilis. Megachile perihirta, Osmia cara, Osmia clarescens, Osmia gabrielis, and Protosmia rubifloris.

Spanish clover has almost continent-wide distribution, with populations occurring from Appalachia to the West Coast, and is most abundant in the far west (from British Columbia to Baja). This is a plant for winter-wet, summer dry locations where the alfalfa-like foliage adds a pleasing, soft-patch of green to otherwise golden-summer landscapes. If you struggle to fill a landscape or habitat with blooming vegetation during the dry summer season, then this is a plant to check out. Give it a little summer water and watch it become even more vigorous and flower-rich.

Approximately 50-seeds (1.0 grams)