Trifolium rubens
"Ruddy clover"
Orders placed until 29 February 2026
You can expect your order in February/March 2026
Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2026
You can expect your order in March/April 2026
Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2026
You can expect your order within 10 business days
UK orders over £50
Free shipping
UK orders under £50
£4.99
Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99
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Description
Trifolium rubens, commonly known as ruddy clover, brings a delightful splash of ruby-red to UK gardens with its feathery flower spikes that seem to float above neat, clover-like foliage. This hardy, clump-forming perennial combines charm with practicality, creating low-maintenance drifts that add both texture and height to borders, wildflower meadows, or naturalistic plantings. Trifolium rubens’ deep crimson blooms sway gracefully in summer breezes, catching the eye while serving as a magnet for bees, making it a perfect addition for pollinator-friendly gardens. The rounded clumps of foliage provide a soft contrast to the striking spikes, and Trifolium rubens’ tidy habit ensures it integrates beautifully alongside other perennials or ornamental grasses.
Thriving in well-drained soil and full sun, ruddy clover is remarkably resilient, providing vibrant colour from mid to late summer. Its ruby-red flower spikes appear season after season, offering both visual impact and ecological value. Trifolium rubens is versatile, equally at home in a cottage garden, meadow-style planting, or even in larger containers, where its clump-forming nature shines. Bees and other pollinators will adore Trifolium rubens, making it a gardener’s delight as well as a wildlife haven. With its combination of beauty, practicality, and ecological benefits, Trifolium rubens ensures that UK gardens are not only colourful but also buzzing with life throughout the summer months.
Trifolium rubens is called ruddy clover because its flower spikes blush deep red, as if it’s permanently embarrassed by all the attention.
Key features
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Comes back every year
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Loved by pollinators
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In peat-free compost
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Low maintenance
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RHS Award (AGM)
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Fully hardy
Specs & details
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Botanical name
Trifolium rubens
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Flower colour
Red, pink
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Plant size
1
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Established height
50-70cm
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Established spread
30-50cm
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Plant spacing
5 plants per m2
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Leaf colour
Green
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Habit
Upright
Clump-forming -
Life cycle
Perennial
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Hardiness
Fully hardy
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Years to establish
2-3 years
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Sunlight
Full sun
Partial shade
Dappled shade -
Position
Sheltered
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Suitable for
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens -
Soil acidity
Any
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Soil moisture
Damp
Free draining -
Soil type
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost -
Growing skill
Easy to grow
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Scented
No
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Pollinator-friendly
Yes
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Mouse resistant
No
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Rabbit resistant
Yes
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Deer resistant
Yes
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Toxicity
No report
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Planting
- Flowering
Useful information
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Soak the Trifolium rubens roots in water for 3-6 hours prior to planting
Plant your "Ruddy clover" bare roots into temporary pots with a multipurpose compost within a week of delivery and grow-on in a sheltered spot outdoors
Choose a pot which comfortably fits the bare roots. Some have a noticeable crown which should be just below the soil surface with any top growth exposed. Some varieties are a length of root which should be planted lengthways and shallowly (1-2cm deep).
Plant out into borders or permanent containers in late spring or early summer once in full growth. Choose a position in sun or shade depending on the variety.
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Orders placed until 29 February 2025
You can expect your order in February/March 2025Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
You can expect your order in March/April 2025Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
You can expect your order within 10 business days
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