As I continue to travel Virginia’s highways and back roads – ever on the look for colorful weeds and plants – I have noticed an abundance of red clover, especially earlier in the summer. Red clover brings back lots of memories. As a boy in Lewisburg, WV, I was an avid quail hunter. Anytime we found a field of clover – used by West Virginia farmers for hay – there were quail nearby. Rabbits, too. Clover, by the way, is in the bean family and, as such, is a rich, nutritious plant.
Clover is a short-lived perennial growing to heights of about 30-inches. Clover does not tolerate drought, but with all the rain we’ve had the past year, it has flourished until recently. The clover flowers range from light pink to a deep red. Bumblebees are attracted to clover and are the chief pollinators.
Red Clover is native to Asia, Europe and parts of northwest Africa. It was imported to South America over a hundred years ago and has since become an important crop in the United States.
Clover is widely grown as a fodder crop and valued for its nitrogen levels, which increase soil fertility. It is often used as a “green manure” crop, turned under to improve the soil. The flowers and leaves of the red clover are edible and can be added as a garnish to any dish. The flowers can also be used are to make jelly and tisanes and are used in essiac tea recipes. Their essential oils may be extracted and its unique scent used in aromatherapy. Clover can also be ground into flour and has many medical uses including treatment for symptoms of menopause, coughs, disorders of the lymphatic system and a variety of cancers. Red clover is the National Flower of Denmark and the State Flower of Vermont. Just thought you’d like to know.
It’s also one of the prettiest roadside flowers in Virginia.