Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
Best Time to See: May, June, July, August, September
Habitat: Grassland
Colour: Purple, Red
While not as common as it's white relation, red clover is still often found in lawns and parks throughout the UK.
It's reddish-pink flowers form oval clusters and it's leaves - while still recognisably 'cloverleaf' shaped - are larger, downy and marked with a white 'V'.
Habitat and distribution
Found throughout the UK. Waste ground, grassy places, roadsides.
Did you know?
- It is used in herbal medicine to treat respiratory and skin disorders.
- Red clover contains “isoflavones” which are changed inside the body to “phytoestrogens” which are similar to the hormone estrogen. Some women use red clover for symptoms of the menopause such as hot flashes; for breast pain or tenderness and for premenstrual syndrome.
- Local names including bee-bread, honeystalks and suckbottles refer to the sweet nectar or honey that can be sucked from the flowers.