red clover Trifolium pratense Kingdom: Plantae FEATURES Division: Magnoliophyta Red clover is a perennial herb with leaves arranged Class: Magnoliopsida alternately along the stem. Each leaf is divided into Order: Fabales three, oval, finely-toothed leaflets. The leaflets are hairy and often have a dark, central spot. They may Family: Fabaceae also show light, white markings. The stems of this ILLINOIS STATUS plant are spreading to erect, branched, hairy and up to two feet long. Rounded clusters of many, purple- common, nonnative red, tubelike flowers develop at the stem tip. Each five-petaled flower is about one-half inch long. The fruit is an oblong pod that opens by a lid. The pod contains many seeds. Red clover may attain a height of six to 16 inches tall.

BEHAVIORS Red clover may be found throughout Illinois. It grows in field edges, roadsides and cultivated fields. Flowers are produced from May through September. Red clover is a Native of Europe that was transported to the United States with early settlers and has spread tremendously.

plants with flower heads

ILLINOIS RANGE

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Photo © 2014, River Valley Photographic Resources, Ltd., rvprltd.com

flower head plants with flowers

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Aquatic Habitats none

Woodland Habitats none

Prairie and Edge Habitats edge

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.