Red clover - Trifolium pratense

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Red clover - Trifolium pratense
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature

Red clover can be found growing in a wide range of grassy places, rough ground, hedgebanks and roadsides. Wild red clover is becoming less common and those growing on verges and improved fields may be one of the vigorous agricultural varieties. Red clover is a low-growing, patch-forming plant: the trefoil leaves have a v-shaped white marking on each leaflet.

Clusters of pinkish-red flowers form dense, rounded flowerheads which appear from May to September. Red clover makes a colourful addition to a lawn or wildflower meadow, tolerating most soil conditions except those that are very acid. Wood mice may stores the leaves and it is also an important nectar source for many insects including the common carder bumble bee.

Animals

Butterflies, Calocoris norvegicus, Common blue, Common carder bumble bee, Honey bee, Pea and bean weevil, Red-tailed bumble bee, Stock dove, Wood mouse

Foliage	Green
Flower	Red, May to September
Moisture	(Average)
Sunlight	(Full sun)
Origin	Native