Wildflowers UK, bringing the British Countryside to you.

Perfect for pollinators

Wild Red Clover -trifolium pratense – grows best in well drained grassland and is well suited to poor soils on sites where there is plenty of sunlight. In the wild, plants occur on roadsides and in old meadows. It is increasingly common to find agriculture varieties of this plant growing in the wild, which are larger and grow more vigorously. The true wild red clover is far more attractive and has smaller flowers that are deeper red. Plants attract a wide range of insect life such as Bumble Bees, and Butterflies and in the wild, Red Clover also plays host to breeding butterflies such as the Short tailed Blue that will lay its eggs on the plant. Red Clover is a low growing species with a deep red flower that appears from May to September. Red Clover looks best growing with other wild flowers that bloom in mid-summer such as Oxeye daisies, Birds foot trefoil, Meadow Cranesbills and Field Scabious. Alternative Names for Red Clover include meadow clover, wild red clover, cow clover, kitty clover, honeystalks, marl grass, wild clover and sugar plums.

How to grow Red Clover Seeds
Red Clover seeds should be sown in spring or autumn, either outside, where they are to flower, or in seed trays and covered lightly with compost. Germination can be improved by lightly rubbing the seeds between 2 sheets of sandpaper. This is known as scarification and helps break down the seed’s tough outer shell. Wild Red Clover seeds are usually easy to germinate and the seedlings, which are quick to develop, can be pricked out and grown on, for planting out later in the year.

RHS Perfect for Pollinators.
The RHS Perfect for Pollinators mark is only given to plants that support pollinating insects in gardens. Bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and many others visit flowers to feed on nectar and pollen; while doing so they transfer pollen and increase seed set and fruit development. Find out more at: rhs.org.uk/plants

To discover more plants for Bees, simply enter the word "pollinators" into the search box above.


To buy Red Clover seeds
To purchase Red Clover seeds, please select a quantity above and click add to cart. To ensure the best chance of success, we sell all of our wildflower seeds by weight, which ensures each wildflower seed packet contains a good quantity of seeds. The recommended sowing rate is 1 gram per square metre, and the number Wild Red Clover seeds per gram is approx. 1000. All of our Wildflower seed packets contain seeds of Native British provenance.


Summary
type - perennial,
colour - Red,
height - 0 to 50cms,
flowering months - May, June, July, August, September,
habitat - Moist Grassland (Clay, Loams), Dry Grassland (clay, loam),
Caterpillar Food Plant,
Attracts Butterflies, Bees