Crimson Clover Trifolium incarnatum
- Phonetic Spelling
- try-FOH-lee-um in-kar-NAY-tum
- Description
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Crimson clover is a cool-season annual, native to Europe and the Middle East. In North Carolina, it is grown as a winter cover crop or a winter forage. It is a member of the bean family (Fabaceae). The species epithet is Latin for “flesh-colored” and refers to the blood-red color of the flowers.
While crimson clover prefers a loamy, fertile, well-drained soil, it is remarkably adaptable, able to tolerate a range of soil fertility and pH. It is intolerant of soggy or salty conditions. It grows best in full sun. It should be sown in place (drills or broadcast) in late autumn. Some cultivars will reseed and have the potential to become weedy.
Like other clovers, this species is a nitrogen-fixing legume and can improve soil fertility, especially when grown in conjunction with grain crops. Like other cover crops, it is also useful for suppressing weeds and preventing erosion. The added bonus of very showy, erect spike-like racemes of crimson flowers in the spring makes this plant more attractive than other cover crops or clovers.
Establish crimson clover permanently in a meadow or grow it as a temporary winter cover crop in any garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No major pests or diseases. It is susceptible to some root-knot nematodes.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Trifolium
- Species:
- incarnatum
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe & the Middle East
- Distribution:
- Naturalized throughout the USA, except in the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains.
- Wildlife Value:
- Excellent forage for deer; also provided good habitat for quail.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Crimson clover produces erect, dense racemes of small, crimson flowers. The flowers are small, but the inflorescences are very showy. They attract bees.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Papery
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are trifoliolate. Each leaflet is obovate or orbicular with a finely denticulate margin.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Predatory Insects
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Dry Soil
- Insect Pests
- Problems:
- Weedy
