Red clover - World Crops Database

Red clover
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Red clover, Trifolium pratense, is a widely recognized herbaceous plant belonging to the legume family. It’s not grown for a specific “fruit” or “nut” but is highly valued for its entire plant, particularly its leaves and flowers, and its beneficial impact on soil.

Originating in Europe and northern Asia, red clover has become a global crop. It thrives in temperate regions worldwide, often found in pastures, meadows, and as a key component in agricultural fields.

Its primary uses are varied: it serves as forage for livestock, as cover crop for soil health, and is even used in traditional medicine. Red clover’s ability to fix nitrogen in the soil makes it invaluable for improving fertility and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Names

Scientific
   Trifolium pratense
English
   Red clover
Dutch
   Rode klaver
Spanish
   Trébol rojo
   Trébol violeta
French
   Trèfle des prés
   Trèfle violet
German
   Rot-Klee
   Wiesen-Klee
Italian
   Trifoglio dei prati
   Trifoglio rosso
   Trifoglio violetto

Taxonomy

Order
   Fabales
Family
   Fabaceae
Genus
   Trifolium
Species
   Trifolium pratense (Red clover)

Basic information and facts

Origin:

Red clover is native to Europe, Western Asia and Northwest Africa.

Distribution:

Europe, Western Asia, Northwest Africa, North America, Australia en New Zealand.

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

It is a perennial plant.

Flowers:

Pink or red flowers are round or egg shaped.

Leaves:

Trifoliate leaves. in the middle of the leaflets a light green or whitish spot.

Climate and weather:

Prefers temperate climate.

Height:

Usually 15 to 50 centimeters tall.

Propagation:

By seed.

Uses:

Red clover is grown as a fodder crop or as a green manure. It can also be used to make a sweet-tasting herbal tea. It is used in traditional medicine of India (e.g. as sedative, and anti-inflammatory). It is also promoted as a treatment for various human diseases in alternative medicine (e.g. to treat coughs).