Science · Plants, Natives & Crops
Red Clover
Red clover supplies forage and improves soil in crop rotations. It grows rapidly in cool spring and fall weather, but crown and root diseases can shorten stand life.
Trifolium pratense · Short-lived perennial forage legume
Profile
- Growth habit
- Plants form erect or spreading stems from a crown.
- Leaves
- Leaves have three leaflets; stems are somewhat hairy.
- Soil
- Tolerates slightly acidic soils better than alfalfa.
- Nitrogen
- Root nodules containing compatible bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen.
Water & soil context
- Moisture (VWC)
- Favor moisture-retentive soil; the forage guide rates tolerance of wet soil as moderate.
- Salinity tolerance
- No salt-tolerance class or threshold is documented in the cited publications.
- Drought tolerance
- Drought tolerance is rated low in the forage guide.
Illustrative monitoring-depth band
3–8 in
Editorial placement example, not a validated optimum or total rooting depth. Confirm the site's root distribution and soil horizons; multiple depths may be needed.
Select a site with dependable soil moisture rather than relying on drought tolerance.
Problems to watch
- Crown rot
- Root rot
- Northern and southern anthracnose
- Powdery mildew
- Drought
Stress signs
- Decay of crown tissue associated with crown rot
- Decay of roots associated with root rot
- Shortened stand persistence associated with crown and root disease
Where you'll find it
- Livestock forage
- Soil improvement in crop rotations
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All Science profilesPublished botanical and soil references are distinct from GroundWorx product guidance. Moisture thresholds and monitoring depths require site calibration; sources do not establish product performance or diagnose stress.