Variety field guide
What to expect from Crimson Clover
Crimson Clover seeds establish an upright/erect stand for cover cropping, living mulch or forage use, flowers for beneficial insects, and soil-building rotations.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Crimson Clover seeds establish an upright/erect stand for cover cropping, living mulch or forage use, flowers for beneficial insects, and soil-building rotations. Plan sowing, stand density, bloom, and termination around the role of this annual rather than treating it like a single harvest vegetable.
About Crimson Clover
Crimson Clover is an annual cover crop with red color, 13–18 in mature height or spread, and an upright/erect habit. Harvest form or size: Flower or head form characteristic of Crimson Clover; mature plant 13–18 in. Botanically it is Trifolium incarnatum. Maturity or first bloom: Stage-based; germination: 7-14 Days at 55–70 °F. Best for cover cropping, living mulch or forage use, flowers for beneficial insects, and soil-building rotations. Agricultural cover or forage use; not described as a single culinary crop.
History and provenance
Clover seed is an agricultural crop as well as a flowering resource. SARE distinguishes crimson clover as an annual cover crop, red clover as a short-lived perennial or biennial type, and white clover as a persistent perennial living mulch. The species and named clover type are kept distinct rather than described with one generic clover profile. A complete public breeder or release record for the named Crimson Clover strain has not been located. The cultivar name is retained, but no person, community, date, or place of origin is assigned without reliable documentation. Radiant and full of quiet vigor, Crimson Clover ( Trifolium incarnatum ) unfurls deep scarlet flower spikes that glow like embers against a field of soft green. Its stems rise with gentle purpose, each blossom a dense, velvety torch that sways in the sun and draws pollinators in great number. Bees, butterflies, and many small creatures take refuge in its blooms, turning each patch into a humming sanctuary of life. Beloved as a cover crop, forage plant, and brilliant ornamental, Crimson Clover stands as a gift of renewal and fertility.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Trifolium incarnatum |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Annual |
| Maturity / first bloom | Stage-based |
| Germination | 7-14 Days at 55–70 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 13–18 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 3 in between plants; 12 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Crimson Clover from seed
How to grow Crimson Clover
Botanical identity: Trifolium incarnatum. Life cycle: Annual.
Sow 1/4 in and use a seed-zone temperature near 55–70 °F. Expected emergence: 7-14 Days. Use clean seed-starting conditions, the listed depth and temperature, and steady moisture without saturation.
Plant during Spring/Fall. Space plants 3 in apart with 12 in between rows or planting bands.
Provide Full sun, moderate water, and loamy near pH 6.0–6.5. Support: No-Support.
Garden performance and care
Decide before planting whether Crimson Clover will be winter-killed, mowed, crimped, incorporated, grazed, or allowed to flower. Termination timing determines biomass, regrowth, and the risk of volunteer seed. Expected emergence is 7-14 Days; the listed maturity or bloom timing is Stage-based.
Harvest, bloom, and uses
Crimson Clover is used for cover cropping, living mulch or forage use, flowers for beneficial insects, and soil-building rotations. Choose the termination or seed-maturity stage before planting, because the best timing differs when the goal is biomass, weed competition, pollinator bloom, forage, or saved seed.
Saving seed
Save seed from several healthy, true-to-type Crimson Clover plants identified before harvest. Confirm the pollination system of Trifolium incarnatum, separate compatible varieties that flower together, and remove clear off-types before they shed pollen or seed. Allow fruit, pods, ears, or seed heads to reach full biological maturity, then clean and dry the seed completely. Label the lot with variety, source, year, isolation method, number of seed plants, and any selection notes; store it cool, dark, and dry and test germination before an important planting.
Common problems
Common concerns: damping-off from saturated media; poor emergence from wrong temperature or depth; leggy seedlings from weak light; crowding and weak airflow; lodging in wind or rain; feeding damage from slugs, caterpillars, beetles, or mammals; foliar disease under prolonged leaf wetness. Management: use clean media, the sowing depth and temperature, strong light, appropriate thinning, and morning irrigation at soil level. Match support to plant height before wind becomes a problem. Inspect regularly and use the least disruptive control appropriate to the pest, plant, and pollinator setting. Remove diseased debris and rotate annual flower beds where recurring disease is severe.
Frequently asked questions
When is Crimson Clover ready?
Stage-based bloom or harvest guidance; no single numeric maturity is displayed without a defensible cultivar-specific basis
How long does germination take?
Expect 7-14 Days near 55–70 °F; actual emergence changes with moisture, seed condition, and soil temperature.
How large does it grow?
About 13–18 in with an upright/erect habit. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container?
Well suited to containers when drainage, spacing, light, and moisture are maintained
How is it used?
Primary role: Cover cropping, living mulch or forage use, flowers for beneficial insects, and soil-building rotations. Agricultural cover or forage use; not described as a single culinary crop.
Can I save seed?
Yes where the crop biology allows, but keep compatible varieties isolated, use several healthy plants, wait for full seed maturity, dry thoroughly, and label the lot.
Minimum Seed Count:1000 seeds
