Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,807 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Crimson Clover: observations by month (U.S.)
About Crimson Clover
Trifolium incarnatum, known as crimson clover or Italian clover, is a species of clover in the family Fabaceae, native to most of Europe. The species name incarnatum means "blood red".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Crimson Clover by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 715 | April | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 215 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Texas | 164 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 80 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Arkansas | 66 | April | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 57 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Oregon | 56 | May | Apr–May |
| Florida | 50 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Washington | 45 | May | May–May |
| North Carolina | 39 | April | Apr–May |
| Kentucky | 34 | April | Apr–May |
| Maryland | 32 | May | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 29 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 27 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 24 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 22 | May | May–Aug |
| Ohio | 22 | May | May–Jun |
| Louisiana | 16 | April | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 14 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 14 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Carolina | 14 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Vermont | 13 | June | May–Sep |
| Missouri | 9 | April | Apr–May |
| Indiana | 6 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 6 | May | May–Jul |
| Delaware | 5 | May | May–May |
| West Virginia | 5 | May | May–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (Legumes)
White Clover
Red Clover
Texas bluebonnet
Bird's-Foot Trefoil
Rose Clover
Tomcat Clover
American hog-peanut
Purple Crownvetch
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Crimson Clover?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Crimson Clover most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Mississippi, Texas.