Large-Headed Clover Seeds (Trifolium macrocephalum)

Dreamy and dazzling – Large-headed clover arises from diminutive 6-inch-tall foliage…from terrible, rocky, low-fertility soils, and dry weather… from lands of rock slides and frigid winters. 

From these extremes this gorgeous and almost unreal little plant produces large 3 to 4-inch diameter flowers that range from “sunset orange” to “candy-cane” colored.

Large-headed clover is a surprisingly resilient little perennial, spreading by rhizomes it naturally occurs at mid to high elevations across the northern inland west. It finds pockets of survival on rocky screes and steep slopes where deer and elk browsing is minimal, making a go of things wherever it has full sun or partial shade. With deep taproots and a tolerance for well-drained soil, this is a great plant for water-limited locations. (Note however that it is very happy to get a water -- even growing in shallow puddles where it can find them). 

More than that, large-headed clover is wildly attractive to large digger bees (Anthophra sp.), a group of bees notable for their beautifully large iridescent blue-green eyes. Both the plant and the bee are show stoppers.

The incredible survival traits of large-headed clover make it a potentially enchanting ground cover for rock gardens and xeriscaping. We think it also holds great promise as a possibly marvelous addition to wild lawns. 

Note that this fascinating plant is hard-seeded with a high degree of seed dormancy. It will need cold stratification and may benefit from mechanical scarification of the seed coat to germinate. It’s not the easiest native plant to propagate, but neither is it the most difficult.

1.0 grams (approximately 150 seeds)