Appearance

Growth form

This short-lived perennial usually grows upright. Common farm types average about 18–30 in (46–76 cm) tall and have hollow, hairy stems.

Leaves

Each leaf has three leaflets, usually with a pale V-shaped mark across them.

Flowers

Many small pea-shaped flowers crowd into a compact rose-pink head. A pair of leaves sits directly below the flower head.

Fruit

A small pod stays inside the fading flower and opens to release the seeds.

Look-alikes

White CloverTrifolium repens

Red Clover stands more upright and has hairy leaves and stems, with pink-purple heads close to a pair of leaves. White Clover creeps along the ground, roots at the stem nodes, and usually has white flower heads.

Why they get mixed up · Both have three-part leaves that often show pale markings.

Alsike CloverTrifolium hybridum

Alsike Clover has smooth stems and white-to-pink flower heads on longer stalks. Red Clover is hairier, usually deeper pink, and often shows a clear pale chevron on each leaflet.

Why they get mixed up · Both can stand upright and carry rounded pinkish flower heads.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• pastures
• hay fields
• roadsides
• open disturbed ground

Range

It was introduced from Eurasia and is distributed throughout the United States. It has been especially important as a hay crop in the Northeast.

Preferred conditions

It grows best in moderately cool to warm places with steady moisture and well-drained loamy soil.

Growing it

Care

In the United States it is grown for hay, pasture feed, cover crops, and soil improvement.

Propagation

It is grown from seed and is often planted with grasses.

Connected species

Pollinators

Bumblebees are especially important pollinators, and honey bees also visit the flowers.

Pollinators

• BumblebeesBombus

  Bumblebees are important pollinators of Red Clover in U.S. seed fields.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

LCLeast Concern·Low risk of extinction