Split clover Plant Care
Trifolium bifidum A.Gray
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Trifolium bifidum is a species of clover known by the common names notchleaf clover and pinole clover. It is native to the western United States from Washington to California, where it grows in many types of habitat. It is an annual herb spreading or growing erect in form. It is lightly hairy to hairless in texture. The leaves are made up of oval leaflets 1 to 2 centimeters long, usually with notches in the tips. The inflorescence is a head of flowers up to 1.5 centimeters wide. Each flower has a calyx of sepals that narrow to bristles covered in long hairs. The flower corolla is yellowish, pinkish, or purple and under a centimeter long. The flowers droop on the head as they age.
Every 3–7 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–80°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Split clover?
Water Split clover every 3–7 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 4 months during the growing season.
What Is the Split clover?
Split clover (Trifolium bifidum) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Trifolium genus. Split clover is also known as Bifid clover, Trifolium bifidum.
Split clover displays a low-growing spreading perennial growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Split clover produces small rounded flower clusters in white, pink, or red.
Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Split clover?
Trifolium bifidum requires watering every 3–7 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 3–7 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Split clover Need?
Split clover thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Split clover Prefer?
Trifolium bifidum grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Split clover prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
50–80°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Split clover?
Well-draining loamy soil with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Split clover to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Split clover?
Feed Split clover every 4 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 4 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Split clover?
Divide and replant every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Split clover?
Split clover can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to purple clover plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Split clover Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Split clover, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Split clover?
Split clover is susceptible to aphids, leafhoppers, clover mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Split clover Need?
Split clover grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. In cooler regions, grow Split clover as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Split clover is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Trifolium genus — compare its care with other Trifolium species on PlantoScan.
Trifolium is part of the Fabaceae plant family — browse all Fabaceae genera and species.
Split clover thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Trifolium Species
Other Trifolium species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Trifolium bifidum A.Gray, family Fabaceae (first published in Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 3: 102 (1863)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Split clover, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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