Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
Also listed as Lagopus pratensis
Also known as Meadow Clover, Purple Clover, Medium Red Clover
Climate Match for your location
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Red Clover is a short-lived perennial legume with distinctive rosy-purple flower heads that bloom throughout summer. It's widely used as a cover crop and forage plant, and attracts pollinators while improving soil nitrogen naturally.
Why grow it
Red clover establishes more quickly than many legume cover crops and tolerates a wider range of soil pH than alfalfa, making it practical for both managed agricultural settings and perennial polycultures. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen efficiently while providing biomass that breaks down readily, improving soil structure faster than slower-decomposing alternatives. The flowers reliably attract bees and other pollinators, offering value beyond soil amendment alone.
Watch out for
Red clover typically persists only two to three years before declining, requiring either reseeding or integration into a rotation plan rather than serving as a permanent ground layer. In areas with high moisture and humidity, fungal diseases can reduce vigor, and dense stands may shade out slower-growing companion plants more aggressively than expected.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
European
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Common cultivars include 'Redland' and 'Altaswede', selected for vigor and disease resistance. Some improved cultivars are bred for increased forage yield in agricultural settings.
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Red Clover is a short-lived perennial legume with distinctive rosy-purple flower heads that bloom throughout summer. It's widely used as a cover crop and forage plant, and attracts pollinators while improving soil nitrogen naturally.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Red Clover grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Red clover establishes more quickly than many legume cover crops and tolerates a wider range of soil pH than alfalfa, making it practical for both managed agricultural settings and perennial polycultures. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen efficiently while providing biomass that breaks down readily, improving soil structure faster than slower-decomposing alternatives. The flowers reliably attract bees and other pollinators, offering value beyond soil amendment alone.
Watch out for
Red clover typically persists only two to three years before declining, requiring either reseeding or integration into a rotation plan rather than serving as a permanent ground layer. In areas with high moisture and humidity, fungal diseases can reduce vigor, and dense stands may shade out slower-growing companion plants more aggressively than expected.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
European
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
2
Avoid near
Notable Cultivars
Common cultivars include 'Redland' and 'Altaswede', selected for vigor and disease resistance. Some improved cultivars are bred for increased forage yield in agricultural settings.