5 Crimson Clover Seeds - Trifolium incarnatum - Sow Spring Autumn - Annual

Trifolium incarnatum Seeds

Crimson Clover, Italian Clover

Trifolium incarnatum or Crimson clover as it is commonly known is a species of clover in the family Fabaceae, native to most of Europe. The species name incarnatum means "blood red". This upright annual grows 20-50 cm tall and is usually unbranched or branched only at the base. It is tolerant of medium soil acidity and will grow readily on both sandy and clay type soils. The leaves are trifoliate with a long petiole, each leaflet hairy, 8-16 mm across, with a truncated or bilobed apex. The flowers are produced throughout the spring and summer, rich red or crimson, congested on an elongated spike inflorescence 3-5 cm tall and 1.5 cm broad; the individual flowers are up to 10-13 mm long and have five petals. The banner of each flower does not sit upright, but folds forward. Crimson clover is also widely grown as a protein-rich forage crop for cattle and other livestock.