Crimson Trifolium Incarnatum

Crimson clover, also called “scarlet” or Italian clover, is native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Turkey. The first introductions into the United States came from Italy in the early 1800s and it then spread rapidly throughout the southeastern states.

Crimson clover is a winter annual with dark green, oval leaflets containing no V-shaped water mark making it easy to distinguish from other annual clovers. It has hairy stems and leaves and brilliant crimson flowers producing yellow rounded seed that are about 2.5 times larger than arrowleaf seed.

Crimson’s large seed is responsible for its ability to easily establish in most seedbed conditions including simple broadcasting in un-tilled areas. Crimson prefers well-drained soils and pH between 5.0-6.5. Current varieties do not have good winter hardiness. It is the fastest growing of the annual clovers, easy to establish, and handles shade well - even the shade of other crops, like standing corn.

Crimson clover is widely used in the South as a dependable, high-yielding, early maturing, annual forage and roadside crop. It is also fast becoming a reliable cover crop for the North, as it has better growth at lower temperatures than most annual clovers. Crimson is also a good weed suppressor, organic matter increaser, and erosion controller. Forage production is high in protein and tonnage - up to 6,000 lbs. DM/acre. Bloat can be an issue, but usually not as likely as with white clover or alfalfa.

Dixie is the most popular variety on the market.