Crimson clover
Trifolium incarnatum
A winter cover crop that fixes nitrogen and blooms red for spring bees.
Hardiness: zones 6 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 1.5 ft tall, 0.5 ft wide
From: Mediterranean
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: fixing nitrogen in the soil, pollinators.
Native to: Mediterranean. Hardy in zones 6 to 10.
The story
Crimson clover came from the Mediterranean and became a favorite winter cover crop in the American South in the 1800s. A field of it in April looks like a red carpet rolled out for the bees.
Planting
Sow in late summer or early fall, six weeks before frost, on raked soil. In cold zones sow in spring.
Growing
Nothing. Mow or cut it down at full bloom, before it sets seed, and plant your summer crop through the stubble.
Harvest and use
Nitrogen for the next crop, winter cover for bare soil, and early nectar for honeybees and bumblebees.
What to watch for
It winterkills below about zero Fahrenheit.
See if Crimson clover fits your yard
Free planner: enter your ZIP for frost dates, climate fit and a sowing calendar. No account, no ads, no tracking cookies.
More helper plants for soil, wildlife and biomass
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home