Ivar Leidus / CC BY-SA 4.0
garden
Red clover
Trifolium pratense
EdibleMedicinalToxic — Use Caution
Overview
A short-lived perennial legume that has been valued for centuries as both a soil-building cover crop and a medicinal herb. Its round, pink-red flower heads are rich in isoflavones and have been used in traditional medicine for respiratory health and hormonal support. Red clover fixes substantial nitrogen and is a beloved foraging plant for both pollinators and herbal tea enthusiasts.
Growing Conditions
LightFull Sun
MoistureModerate
Hardiness Zones7b — 10
Height0.61m
Spread0.6m
Growth HabitGraminoid
LifespanPerennial
Bloom ColorRed
Pollinator Valuehigh
Companion Planting & Soil
Good Companions
Soil pH5.5 — 7
Soil TypeWell-drained, fertile loam; adaptable to most soils
Planting Calendar
When to sow, transplant, and harvest by growing zone.
| Zone | Action | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold (1-2) | Direct Sow | Apr — May | Direct sow in spring; short-lived perennial (2-3 years); nitrogen fixer |
| Cold (1-2) | Bloom | Jun — Aug | Purple-pink flower heads; excellent bee forage; fixes 75-200 lbs nitrogen per acre |
| Cool (3-4) | Direct Sow | Mar — May | Sow in spring; or frost-seed in late winter onto snow or frozen soil |
| Cool (3-4) | Bloom | May — Sep | Blooms through summer; mow to prevent seed set if not wanted as permanent cover |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Mar — Apr | Sow in spring or fall; taller than white clover — good forage and green manure |
| Moderate (5-7) | Direct Sow | Aug — Sep | Fall sow for overwintering |
| Moderate (5-7) | Bloom | Apr — Sep | Summer bloom; flower heads edible in salads or dried for tea |
| Warm (8-9) | Direct Sow | Sep — Oct | Fall sow; purple flower heads are edible and medicinal |
| Warm (8-9) | Bloom | Mar — May | Spring bloom; goes dormant or dies in summer heat |
| Hot (10+) | Direct Sow | Oct — Nov | Fall sow; short-lived in hot zones — may act as annual |
| Hot (10+) | Bloom | Feb — Apr | Brief spring bloom |
Uses
Culinary
- Flower heads dried for herbal tea
- Young leaves and sprouts added to salads
- Flower blossoms as edible garnish
Medicinal
- Isoflavones studied for menopausal symptom relief
- Traditional respiratory remedy for coughs and bronchitis
- Blood-purifying spring tonic in folk medicine
Other Uses
- Nitrogen-fixing cover crop and green manure
- Important bee and pollinator forage crop
- Pasture and hay crop for livestock
Safety Notes
Diseased clover, even if no symptoms of disease are visible, can contain toxic alkaloids[222].
