ExplorePlants

crimson clover

Trifolium incarnatum

Crimson clover is a beautiful flower with bright red blooms that attract bees and butterflies. It grows in fields and gardens, making the world a little more colorful!

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The crimson clover has striking, upright, conical flower heads that are a vibrant deep red to scarlet color, appearing fuzzy due to many tiny florets. Its leaves are soft, hairy, and trifoliate, meaning they have three leaflets, distinguishing it from single-leafed plants.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusTrifolium
crimson clover
flowering trait badgenitrogen_fixing trait badgebiennial trait badgeagricultural trait badge
crimson clover

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Cows and sheep love to munch on crimson clover for a healthy and nutritious snack.

Its scientific name, Trifolium, surprisingly means 'three leaves' in Latin!

Some people carefully use crimson clover flowers to make their own special herbal tea.

This plant is often called 'Italian clover' because it originally comes from Southern Europe.

Special abilities

Ability

Nitrogen Power-Up

Crimson clover can partner with tiny soil bacteria to 'fix' nitrogen from the air, turning it into food that helps both itself and other plants grow strong!

Ability

Soil Supercharger

Crimson clover has deep roots that break up compacted soil, improving its structure and allowing water and air to reach other plant roots easily.

Ability

Busy Bee Beacon

Crimson clover's bright red flowers act like a giant 'welcome sign' for buzzing bees and other pollinators, providing them with essential nectar and pollen.

Measurements & details

Height
20-50 cm
Spread
15-30 cm
Flower Size
2-6 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to early summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Annual
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

European honey bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar and pollen

pollinates

Common eastern bumblebee

Bombus impatiens

gathers nectar and pollen

eaten by

Cattle

Bos taurus

a nutritious forage crop

eaten by

Domestic sheep

Ovis aries

grazes on the plant

symbiotic with

Rhizobium bacteria

Rhizobium leguminosarum

fixes nitrogen in its roots

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always check with an adult before picking flowers in nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is crimson clover?

20-50 cm

How wide does crimson clover spread?

15-30 cm

How big are the flowers on crimson clover?

2-6 cm

When does crimson clover bloom?

Spring to early summer

Is crimson clover edible?

Yes

Is crimson clover toxic?

None

What is crimson clover's lifecycle?

Annual

How is crimson clover pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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