Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

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Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is a member of the Fabaceae or Bean Family.  Closely related to the much smaller white clover gardeners detest finding in their lawns, this is a short-lived perennial which can grow from 8- to 20-inches tall (sometimes even more).  The leaves are alternate and trifoliate, the lower long-stalked and the upper short-stalked or even sessile.  Elliptical to ovate leaflets are 0.4- to 2-inches in length.  The roundish flower heads, from 0.4- to 1.2-inches long are sessile or short-stalked, and have many sessile magenta to white flowers from 0.5- to 0.8-inches long.  This is a frequent wildflower found throughout most of temperate North America.  It flowers between May and August.