A common plant of fields and roadsides. Leaves: Red Clover has a magenta stalk-less flower head with alternate divided 3-part leaflets that, on the long-stalked larger lower leaves, have a blunt oval shape; a more lance-like shape on the upper leaves, which are stalkless or with short stalks; all leaves with hairy edges, without teeth. On each leaflet you will see a chevron like design that is a paler shade of green, sometimes even white. The smallest leaves are usually directly under the round flower head, where you will also find several green bracts. Leaves have very conspicuous stipules often with contrasting purple veining. Stem: Plant height is usually around one foot but some varieties can reach to 30". Unlike the White Clover, it is usually an erect plant with a hairy stem, sometimes branching. Flowers: The flower head is a cluster of 27 to 30 stemless tube shaped, 5-petaled flowers that open outward in all directions. The flower upper petal is the longest and shows best the delicate veining in a deeper color. Occasionally you may find a white flower. The inflorescence can arise from the leaf axils and on the stem tip.

It grows from a taproot as a biennial or a short-lived perennial. It was introduced to the United States for livestock food and it's primary use is for hay and silage. As a cover crop it is used for soil improvement as it is a member of the pea family of nitrogen fixing legumes. It is self-sterile and requires pollination by insects, mainly bumblebees as the nectaries are at the bottom of the flower tube. However, it is a source of nectar and pollen for many bees and butterflies. For comparison purposes, the White Clover, T. repens, is smaller and less erect, whereas the Yellow and White Sweet Clover, Melilotus officinalis, are tall and branching.