White Clover has a reputation as a lawn invader, but it is one of the most hardworking ground-level plants in any garden ecology. Native to Europe and long naturalized across North America, it creeps by rooting at its stem nodes to form dense mats four to six inches tall, spreading twelve inches or more. The white pom-pom flower heads appear through spring, sitting just above the trifoliate leaves that, in golden-leaved forms, take on warm yellow and gold tones. For bees, it is a reliable and generous nectar source.

As a cover crop, White Clover fixes atmospheric nitrogen into the soil through its root nodules, enriching whatever follows it in rotation. It tolerates mowing, part shade, and a range of moisture conditions, asking only that the soil not turn waterlogged for long. The varieties with golden foliage add visual interest to low-traffic areas and container combinations. In zones 3 through 10, it asks almost nothing and returns a surprising amount, particularly if you view the garden as a system rather than just a display.