Red clover is one of the oldest true clovers to be sown and used as livestock feed and crop rotation. It became integral in the development of both European and American agriculture. Originating in Asia Minor and southeastern Europe, it easily spread as an important sown crop throughout Europe, then in England, and finally in America. Red clover has hairy hollow stems and leaves, and magenta flowers borne in compact seed head clusters. Each leaf has three oval leaflets. The 2” long leaflets have a white or light green chevron. Red clover plants grow from crowns. Red clover prefers soils with a pH of 5.8-7.0. Red clover is often grazed, but is not tolerant of continuous close defoliation; rotational stocking is best. Red clover also requires good soil moisture, has good heat and drought tolerance, but is not considered as tolerant of wet conditions like other clovers, such as white and alsike. Humid or irrigated regions of zones 3-8; acts as annual in zone 9. Biennial.
