Crimson Clover

JoAnne and Emilie came home from spending the day with her mom on Cape Cod with (3) new clover plants. They're unusual and not the typical clover I'm used to seeing in our area. What's unusual about them are the flowers, they're elongated and completely different than the White clover and Red Clover often found in yards and lawns.



After some research I've come to the conclusion that these are Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum) plants. Crimson Clover is an annual and lives just one year. Grows quickly, blooms heavily, dies with first frost and can regrow the following spring if the seeds fall on bare ground. The species name incarnatum means "blood red".

Do not confuse this plant with the perennial red clover. Crimson leaves have a more rounded tip and both stem and leaves have more hair than red clover. Crimson plants have dark green leaves and grow to a height of 1-3 feet. Brilliant crimson flowers with long heads mature from top to bottom. Seed is rounded, yellow and about 3 times larger than most other clovers. Crimson clover may be the most popular annual clover planted for deer in the entire U.S.