Plant Details

Trifolium incarnatum

Crimson Clover

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Common names

34 names · 23 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Crimson Clover[1]
  • scarlet clover[1]
Other languages (22)
Dutch
  • Inkarnaatklaver[1]
French
  • Trèfle du Roussillon[1]
  • Trèfle farouche[1]
  • Trèfle incarnat[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 绛车轴草[1]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 克林生三葉草[1]
  • 絳紅三葉草[1]
  • 绛三葉[1]
Czech
  • jetel inkarnát[1]
Danish
  • Blod-Kløver[1]
Estonian
  • kahkjaspunane ristik[1]
Finnish
German
  • Blutklee[1]
  • Inkarnat-Klee[1]
  • Italienischer Klee[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Hungarian
  • bíborhere[1]
Italian
  • Trifoglio incarnato[1]
Japanese
  • ベニバナウマゴヤシ[1]
  • ベニバナツメクサ[1]
Lithuanian
  • Purpurinis dobilas[1]
Norwegian
  • blodkløver[1]
Polish
  • Koniczyna krwistoczerwona[1]
Portuguese
  • Erva-do-amor[1]
  • Trevo-encarnado[1]
  • Trevo-vermelho[1]
Russian
  • Клевер мясо-красный[1]
Slovak
  • ďatelina bledokarmínová[1]
Slovenian
  • Inkarnatka[1]
Swedish
  • blodklöver[1]
Turkish
  • Kan Yoncası[1]
Ukrainian
  • Конюшина багряна[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Trifolium incarnatum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • crimson clover — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • veriapila — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • scarlet clover — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Erva-do-amor — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Trevo-encarnado — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Trevo-vermelho — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Inkarnat-Klee — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Blutklee — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Rosenklee — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Italienischer Klee — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Trèfle incarnat — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Trèfle du Roussillon — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Trèfle farouche — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • jetel inkarnát — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • kahkjaspunane ristik — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Inkarnaatklaver — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • blodkløver — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Trifoglio incarnato — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Blod-Kløver — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Клевер мясо-красный — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • ベニバナツメクサ — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • ベニバナウマゴヤシ — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Koniczyna krwistoczerwona — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • blodklöver — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • 絳紅三葉草 — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • 克林生三葉草 — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • 绛车轴草 — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • 绛三葉 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Inkarnatka — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Purpurinis dobilas — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Конюшина багряна — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • bíborhere — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • ďatelina bledokarmínová — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.
  • Kan Yoncası — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 64268; Trifolium incarnatum.

General information

Scientific name: Trifolium incarnatum
Accepted name (Kew): Trifolium incarnatum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Botanical family: Fabaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Trifolium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Crimson Clover
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.3–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Spread: 0.3–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [2]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [2]
Foliage: None
Growth habit: Creeping, Erect

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [2]
Life cycle: Annual
Sources [2]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [2]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Moist, Occasionally Dry

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [2]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt)
Sources [2]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [2]
Light:
Full sun
Sources [2]

Uses

Edible parts:
Seed, Tea
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(0)
Functions:
Nitrogen fixer

Description

Seeds: Sprouted seeds can be added to salads. You can also dry the seeds and grind them to make nutritious flour. Flower heads: After drying, the flower heads can be used as a tea substitute.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/05
Harvest ends: 15/07

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 169427; name ID 2440723; Trifolium Tourn. ex L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 166413; name ID 2439160; Trifolium incarnatum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Trifolium incarnatum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .