# large hop clover (*Trifolium aureum*) Large hop clover is a cheerful plant with bright yellow flowers that look like little cups! It grows close to the ground and is often found in fields and meadows, making it a fun plant to discover. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![large hop clover](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Trifolium_aureum_W.jpg&width=800) Photo: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trifolium_aureum_W.jpg) ## Appearance The large hop clover has distinctive dense, oval-shaped flower heads that resemble tiny hops, starting bright yellow and turning golden-brown as they mature. Its leaves are composed of three small, ovate leaflets, often slightly hairy. Unlike other clovers, its spent flowers persist, creating a unique papery appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Trifolium ## Interesting facts - Ancient Romans sometimes ate clover, believing it could help them think more clearly! - Each leaf is actually three separate leaflets joined together, a common clover trait! - Its golden flower heads look like tiny hops, just like those used to flavor beer! - When its flowers fade, they turn crispy brown and stay on the plant for a long time! ## Special abilities - **Soil Supercharger:** Large hop clover can pull nitrogen gas from the air and store it in the soil, helping other plants grow stronger. - **Seed Sprinkler:** This clover produces many tiny seeds that disperse easily, helping new plants sprout up year after year. - **Drought Defender:** Its robust root system helps large hop clover find moisture, allowing it to thrive even in dry conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-60 cm - **Spread:** 20-40 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees collect nectar and pollen from its bright yellow flowers. - **Pollinates:** Common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — Bumblebees are important pollinators for various clover species. - **Eaten by:** Domestic sheep (*Ovis aries*) — Livestock, like sheep, frequently graze on this clover in pastures. - **Symbiotic with:** Pea family bacterium (*Rhizobium leguminosarum*) — Forms root nodules to fix nitrogen from the air for the plant. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always check with an adult before touching or picking plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify large hop clover? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is large hop clover? 15-60 cm ### How wide does large hop clover spread? 20-40 cm ### How big are the flowers on large hop clover? 0.3-0.5 cm ### When does large hop clover bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is large hop clover edible? Yes ### Is large hop clover toxic? None ### What is large hop clover's lifecycle? Annual ## Where to spot - [Logging Creek Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/logging-creek-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Large Hop Clover: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/large-hop-clover)