Leaf
Emmanuel Stratmains, Tela Botanica · CC BY-SA 2.0
Red clover
Trifolium pratense L.
Family: Fabaceae
20 to 50 cm
Meadows, lawns, waysides
Flowering: May – September
Full sun
Part shade
Very hardy, to -20°C
❓ How do you recognise this plant?
The famous four-leaf clover is a rare anomaly of this species, which normally has three leaflets. Red clover has an upright, non-creeping stem and darker flowers.
🍃 Leaves
Three ovate leaflets, often marked with a pale chevron
🌸 Flowers
Small dense pink-violet flower head
🍎 Fruits
Small pod containing a single seed
🪵 Bark
Slightly hairy, non-woody herbaceous stem
🗺️ Distribution
Europe, temperate Asia; very common in France in meadows
🐝 Value for pollinators
Pink flowers rich in nectar, particularly liked by long-tongued bumblebees
✂️ Horticultural uses
Grown as a forage plant and green manure, sown in nectar-rich wildflower meadows
⚠️ Possible toxicity
No known toxicity
⚠️ Look-alike species
Red clover
Trifolium pratense
White clover
Trifolium repens
Red clover has an upright, non-creeping stem and darker flowers.
🌿 Other Fabaceae to discover
ℹ️ Educational profile — do not use it to judge whether a plant is edible or safe.
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