Crimson Clover
Trifolium incarnatum
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corse, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Kriti, Netherlands, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe
Kritzolina
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Trifolium
- Species:
- Trifolium incarnatum
- USDA Symbol:
- TRIN3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- red, crimson
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Pollen Specialist Bee Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Native pollen specialist bee species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Grapholita interstinctana, Green Cloverworm Moth (Hypena scabra), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Pyrobombus Dalla, ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, beneficial insects
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage preferred
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to temperate regions with mild winters
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment. Best sown in fall for spring bloom in mild climates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.