White clover is native to Europe and Central Asia and was brought to North America as a forage crop; it has since naturalized across grassy areas of the continent. The stolons can extend up to about 18 cm a year, and like other legumes it works with root bacteria that fix atmospheric nitrogen, typically adding 110 to 170 kg per hectare a year in pasture. It tolerates close mowing, poor soils and clay.
The genus name comes from Latin tres, three, and folium, leaf, and repens means creeping. Bumblebees and honeybees are its main visitors, which has made it a mainstay of ecological lawn mixes.