Trifolium rubens
Trifolium rubens
Trifolium rubens
Trifolium rubens
Trifolium rubens
Trifolium rubens

Trifolium rubens

"Ruddy clover"

Trifolium rubens

3 bare root — £8.40

Spring planting season is currently closed 
i
Delivery schedule

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

Available for (pre)ordering again in December
Free delivery on UK orders over £50
i
Shipping to the UK

UK orders over £50
Free shipping

UK orders under £50
£4.99

Northern Ireland orders under £50
£5.99

More info

63,000+ customers rate us 4.7/5
i
Reviews

Reviews.io      4.7   (34,275 reviews)

Trustpilot        4.5     (9,730 reviews)

Google           4.7     (9,835 reviews)

Shop app       4.6     (9,450 reviews)

Shopify Planet
All deliveries are carbon neutral
i
Shopify Planet
Carbon neutral delivery

In cooperation with Shopify Planet and the Shopify Sustainability Fund, we are proud to be the first plant and flower bulb supplier able to:

— Ship carbon neutral;
— Remove atmospheric carbon;
— Store carbon for 1000+ years;
— Invest in reforestation;
— Invest in soil carbon storage.

How? Every time we ship an order, Shopify Planet automatically calculates our shipping emissions, and ensures high-quality carbon removal to neutralise our shipping footprint. Learn more

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

  • Comes back every year

  • Loved by pollinators

  • In peat-free compost

  • Low maintenance

  • RHS Award (AGM)

  • Fully hardy

Specs & details

  • Botanical name

    Trifolium rubens

  • Flower colour

    Red, pink

  • Plant size

    1

  • Established height

    50-70cm

  • Established spread

    30-50cm

  • Plant spacing

    5 plants per m2

  • Leaf colour

    Green

  • Habit

    Upright
    Clump-forming

  • Life cycle

    Perennial

  • Hardiness

    Fully hardy

  • Years to establish

    2-3 years

  • Sunlight

    Full sun
    Partial shade
    Dappled shade

  • Position

    Sheltered

  • Suitable for

    Large containers
    Borders
    Cottage gardens
    Low maintenance gardens

  • Soil acidity

    Any

  • Soil moisture

    Damp
    Free draining

  • Soil type

    Loam
    Clay
    Loam-based compost

  • Growing skill

    Easy to grow

  • Scented

    No

  • Pollinator-friendly

    Yes

  • Mouse resistant

    No

  • Rabbit resistant

    Yes

  • Deer resistant

    Yes

  • Toxicity

    No report

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSepOctNovDec
  • Planting
  • Flowering

Useful information

    • 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.

    Read all planting & care instructions

  • Orders placed until 29 February 2025
    You can expect your order in February/March 2025

    Orders placed 1 March - 15 April 2025
    You can expect your order in March/April 2025

    Orders placed 16 April - 15 May 2025
    You can expect your order within 10 business days

Perennials in 1 minute

The beauty of perennial plants doesn’t just lie in their long-lasting flowers and sturdy, resilient nature, but it’s their sheer determination to keep on coming back stronger every year —in year one they’re good, but in future years they’re even better!

World class bulbs

We cooperate with the best growers to supply world class bulbs and plants.

We ♥ our planet

We reduce waste by using recyclable packaging whenever we are able.

We've got your back

Excellent customer care: Our service is rated 4.8 out of 5 by our customers.

Spoilt for choice

Biggest ever selection of
flower bulbs and plants online. Lots of exclusive varieties.

Size matters

You can expect top size flower bulbs and bare-root plants. Always.