Plant Details

Trifolium subterraneum

Subterranean Clover

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Common names

27 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Burrowing Clover[1]
  • Subclover[1]
  • Subterranean Clover[1]
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Onderaardse klaver[1]
French
  • Trèfle enterreur[1]
  • Trèfle semeur[1]
  • Trèfle souterrain[1]
Arabic
  • نفل مطمور[1]
Catalan
  • Trèvol subterrani[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 地三叶草[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 地三葉草[1]
Czech
  • jetel podzemní[1]
Danish
  • Jord-Kløver[1]
Estonian
Finnish
German
  • Bodenfrüchtiger Klee[1]
Hebrew
  • תלתן תת-קרקעי[1]
Hungarian
  • földbentermő here[1]
Italian
  • trifoglio sotterraneo[1]
Japanese
  • ジモグリツメクサ[1]
Portuguese
  • Trevo-subterrâneo[1]
Russian
  • Клевер подземный[1]
Slovak
  • ďatelina podzemná[1]
Slovenian
  • podzemna detelja[1]
Swedish
  • grävklöver[1]
Turkish
  • Yeraltı Üçgülü[1]
Ukrainian
  • Конюшина підземна[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Trifolium subterraneum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Subterranean Clover — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Burrowing Clover — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Subclover — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Trevo-subterrâneo — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • תלתן תת-קרקעי — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • jetel podzemní — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Bodenfrüchtiger Klee — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • maaristik — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Trèfle semeur — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Trèfle souterrain — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Trèfle enterreur — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Onderaardse klaver — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • maa-apila — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Trèvol subterrani — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Клевер подземный — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • ジモグリツメクサ — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • grävklöver — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • 地三葉草 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • 地三叶草 — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • trifoglio sotterraneo — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Jord-Kløver — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • podzemna detelja — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • نفل مطمور — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Конюшина підземна — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • földbentermő here — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • ďatelina podzemná — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.
  • Yeraltı Üçgülü — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 60201; Trifolium subterraneum.

General information

Scientific name: Trifolium subterraneum
Accepted name (Kew): Trifolium subterraneum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Trifolium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Subterranean Clover
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.20 m
Spread: - m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: None

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7-10
Soil moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Sand (light) Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves
Edibility rating:
(1)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/05
Harvest ends: 30/06

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 169427; name ID 2440723; Trifolium Tourn. ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 166776; name ID 2439781; Trifolium subterraneum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Trifolium subterraneum

    Taxonomic data from WCVP-Fabaceae, version 2026, v.7, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1427388, ID 58Q7S: Trifolium subterraneum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .