Summary ³

Trifolium pratense, the red clover, is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia and northwest Africa, but planted and naturalised in many other regions.

Description ⁴

Family:
Fabaceae (Pea)

Height:
6 to 24 inches

Leaves:
Alternately attached; 3 oval leaflets with white, blotchy, V-shaped markings

Flower:
Small, pink flowers in round dense clusters at the top of the stem

Bloom time:
Late May-September

Habitat:
Fields, roadsides, lawns

Wildlife Benefits:
Flowers are attractive to many species of bees, butterflies, and moths. Foliage and seeds are a food source for a variety of caterpillars and other insects, as well as many species of birds and small mammals.

Can I plant this in my garden?
No, red clover is considered weedy, and often finds its way into lawns and gardens on its own. While removal is often unnecessary, as this species is unlikely to outcompete native species and is valuable to wildlife, management options include hand pulling or cutting of flowers with a string trimmer.

References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/red-clover
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/red_clover.htm

Range ⁴

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Susan J. Hewitt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Susan J. Hewitt
2. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, all rights reserved, uploaded by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
3. Adapted by Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_pratense
4. (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

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