Chile trefoil
Acmispon wrangelianus
Last reviewed: August 2026
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
4"–12" H × 6"–12" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
CA, OR
Pollinators
bees
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 431 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaA low, sprawling annual legume with small trifoliate leaves and tiny yellow pea-like flowers scattered across open grassland. It completes its life cycle quickly each spring before summer drought sets in.
Wildlife value
Host plant for acmon blue.
As a member of the pea family it hosts acmon blue butterfly caterpillars and fixes nitrogen that benefits neighboring grassland plants.
Common questions
- How much sun does Chile trefoil need?
- Chile trefoil grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Chile trefoil bloom?
- Chile trefoil blooms in March, April, and May.
- Where is Chile trefoil native?
- Chile trefoil (Acmispon wrangelianus) is native to CA, OR, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What butterflies or moths does Chile trefoil host?
- Chile trefoil is a larval host plant for acmon blue.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
Ready to grow Chile trefoil? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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