Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Out of season
New
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.
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Plant profile
Plant calendar
Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Trifolium rubens
- Flower colour
- Red, pink
- Established height
- 50-70cm
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Upright
Clump-forming - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 9 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
-
Damp
Free draining - Soil type
-
Loam
Clay
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Large containers
Borders
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade
Dappled shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 2-3 years
Pollinator-friendly
RHS Recommended
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Low maintenance
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Trifolium rubens reviews
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