White clover is grown for livestock grazing, soil improvement, and erosion control. In years past, it was often used in lawn seed mixtures. The plant has an upright spreading habit and grows about 2 feet tall. The dark green leaves appear to be composed of 5 leaflets. The compound leaves actually consist of 3 leaflets and 2 broad leaf-like stipules at the base of the leaf stalk.
Plants produce small, pea-like flowers.
Flowers are bright yellow to deep orange and are sometimes tinged with red. Flowers are borne in a cluster of 4 to 8 at the ends of stems. At maturity, the pods split and the halves twist, scattering the seeds. In lawns, mowers also help to scatter the seeds. Birds-foot trefoil is native to Europe and Asia, but has become naturalized in much of the United States.