Trifolium pratense

Common Names

Red Clover, Bee Bread, Purple Clover, Clover Grass, Cow Grass, Peavine Clover, Cow Clover, Sugar Plum

Summary

Red clover is a herbaceous perennial legume native to Europe, Western Asia, and Northwest Africa that now naturalizes across temperate regions. It is an erect, usually hairy-stemmed plant with trifoliate leaves bearing a white V mark and pink to magenta flower heads; a mild honey-like fragrance accompanies the blossoms and the plant serves as a major nectar source for bees.

Propagation is by seed, and it grows best in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soils, tolerating moist conditions and preferring slightly acidic to neutral pH. Its nitrogen-fixing roots improve soil fertility and it is used as forage for pasture, hay, and silage as well as a soil-improving cover crop; it supports pollinators and wildlife, and is commonly grown in seed mixtures with grasses.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-2.5 feet

Spread

4-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained loam or clay-loam soil with pH 5.5–7.0.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil (moist but not waterlogged)

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline (circumneutral) soils

Bloom Color

Pink

Bloom Time

Spring, Summer, Fall

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Rapid

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, other pollinators, and butterflies