Crimson Clover is a reseeding annual that grows 1 to 2 feet tall, with 3-leaflet clover leaves and charming blood red allium-like blooms. This plant provides an excellent source of forage for grazing animals and nectar for bees and other pollinators. Crimson Clover grows best in cool weather, so grow it as a spring or fall cover crop. When not cultivated as a seasonal cover crop, annual Crimson Clover is an easy, low-growing ornamental plant. Crimson Clover grows well in a variety of soils but does best if the soil is well drained. In general, clover tolerates some shade, so you can sow Crimson Clover in between vegetable or flower rows, under tall plants such as heavy nitrogen feeding crops like corn, or under fruit trees and hardy perennials.

Crimson Clover is typically grown as a quick-growing annual groundcover because of its ability to obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere and “fix” it underground onto nodules attached to its roots. This process is referred to as ‘nitrogen fixation’ and is popular for soils depleted in nitrogen. For maximum nitrogen, incorporate grazing animals, ‘green manure till-in’ techniques, mow, or cut back with a weed trimmer at end of bloom and before seeds form, doing so releases the root nondual nitrogen into the soil. Crimson clover will not re-grow after heavy grazing or mowing once flowering has begun, so always make sure you have enough seed on hand to reseed if desired.