Red Clover

Red clover is a short-lived perennial legume native to Europe and widely naturalized throughout North America. It is commonly found in pastures, roadsides, and disturbed sites, where it thrives in moist, well-drained soils and full sun. Recognizable by its round pink to reddish-purple flower heads and trifoliate leaves marked with a pale “V,” red clover is valued as a forage crop and soil improver due to its nitrogen-fixing abilities. However, it can occasionally naturalize into semi-natural habitats, where it competes with native forbs and grasses.