A Red Clover Compendium

Trifolium pratense

She does have a lot to say. In the bygone Victorian era, there was a rather extensive Language of Flowers. It was a thing. In it, every flower carried a particular meaning. And the way you put together a bouquet could speak volumes. Red Clover meant “I promise,” and stood for success, money, protection, consecration, exorcism, love and fidelity.

And it seems to be true. Permaculturists understand and appreciate all the good Red Clover does. This appreciation is, literally, very down to Earth, compared to Victorian sentimentality…

but, strangely…

it’s kind of the same thing!

Red Clover in Permaculture

There are seventy-five species of true clover in North America.

And from the mountains, to the prairies and to the driest of deserts, red clover is the one most likely to succeed. She grows pretty much anywhere. Which is not to say the other species aren’t really good, too. They totally are. And for many of the same reasons.

A perennial favorite of permaculturists, Red Clover is so many things; a deep digger, a dynamic accumulator, a nitrogen fixer, a fabulous green manure, an enduring ground cover and an insectary. She has it all!

A member of the Fabaceae family, she varies in size, growing anywhere from 1–3 feet tall, depending on the location. She is described as both a biennial and a self-seeding perennial. While the individual plants are not very long-lived…3 to 5 years is their average lifespan…a large patch can self-seed and continue the family line, for as long as conditions permit.

Besides making her drought tolerant, her deep taproots perform many other wonderful functions. They break up and enrich compacted soil.

The little root hairs of all plants continually push into the soil and die back, as conditions change. It’s a constant ebb and flow, this growing out and dying back, potentially up to several times a day. And every time they die back, they leave a little fertility behind. Deep taproots do the same thing, but, obviously, much deeper down.

Also, long taproots can access nutrients other, more shallow-rooted plants, can’t reach. These nutrients are drawn up, closer to the surface where other plants can reach them. The nutrients, naturally, also accumulate in Clover’s leaves, stems and other parts. So, when the plant dies or is chopped and dropped, the decomposing leaves leach all the good nutrition back down into the soil, from the surface.

Red Clover is also a strong nitrogen-fixer. There’s a lot of nitrogen in the environment, and it’s a necessary nutrient for all plant life. But plants cannot access it on their own. Red Clover is one of a very long list of nitrogen-fixing plants. They make it accessable. They have this amazing, symbiotic relationship with particular soil organisms. The micro-organisms feed off the sugars she produces in her roots and they, in turn, fix nitrogen so that it becomes available to her and other plants nearby. It’s brilliant.

Red clover is widely grown as a green manure crop for these reasons. It’s sustained, reliable growth produces a good soil structuring effect, with a fertility as abundant and bountiful as Nature intended it.

Those Victorians were not just whistleing Dixie.

Also Known As

Trifolium pratense is known by many names –

• beebread
• trefoil
• cow grass
• marl grass
• wild clover
• meadow clover
• peavine clover
• purple clover
• honeysuckle clover
• broad-leafed clover

A native to Africa, Europe and Western Asia, she spread to England in the 17^th century and was grown extensively as a nutritious forage crop for livestock. Cattle and horses love it. Later, she went with colonists to North America, where she naturalized widely. It’s no wonder she has so many names.

Food

Red clover is full of nutrition. The flowers are nutrient dense and contain the following –

• Calcium
• Chromium
• Magnesium
• Niacin
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Protein
• Thiamine
• Vitamin C

Nutritional and tastey, the entire plant can be eaten in salads, soups, stews or smoothies. It is excellent juiced. And can be steamed, sauted or eaten raw. Although for some, the raw plant may be difficult to digest. Soaking it for a few hours should help with this.

The dried flowers can be ground into an excellent and nutritious baking flour.

The seeds are great, too. Highly digestable, they are brimming with flavanols and antioxidants, which helps regulate blood pressure. They protect heart health by promoting better blood flow and, by extension, better transportation of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

They are very high in protein. 26% – which is a lot!

They also have a lot of otherwise hard to find essential vitamins and minerals such as –

• Zinc
• Phosphorus
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A

Medicine

Parts used: Flowering tops and leaves

Red clover is famous for dealing with “women’s problems.” This is because it contains isoflavones, which have similar effects as estrogen, making it a good way to ease the common difficulties related to estrogen loss –

• irregular periods
  mood swings
  irritation
  nausea
  hot flashes & night sweats
  insomnia, fatigue
  loss of libido
  
  

But it doesn’t stop there. Isoflavonoids also significantly increase bone mineral content, reducing the risk of developing postmenopausal osteoporosis. They prevent both cardiovascular problems and cognitive difficulties by reducing levels of triglycerides and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. They also improve skin elasticity, thickness, and hydration, which reduces wrinkles.

Not Just for Women

While the estrogen-like effects are specifically helpful for women, non-women can benefit enormously from red clover too. It has a huge healing potential for multiple systems of the body. For everybody.

Detoxifier

• efficiently removes metabolic wastes
• blood thinner
  • removes accumulated toxins
• slightly diuretic,
• supports strong lymphatic flow
  • relievies blocks in the lymphatic system

Respiratory issues

• chronic lung issues
  • asthma
• expectorant and anti-spasmodic properties
  • whooping cough
  • bronchitis
  • colds

Immune function

• fevers and inflammatory conditions
• debilitating illnesses
  • hepatitis
  • mononucleosis

Tonic for convalescents

• stimulates liver and gallbladder activity
• improvies appetite
• relievies constipation
• high levels of vitamins and minerals:
• vitamin B complex
• vitamin C
• calcium
• nitrogen
• iron
• chromium
• magnesium
• manganese
• niacin
• phosphorus
• potassium
• flavonoids
• saponins
• salicylates
• coumarins
• resins
• volatile oils

Skin disorders

• eczema
• psoriasis
• poultice for
  • sores
  • athlete’s foot
  • rashes
  • cancerous growths

Inflammatory conditions

• fomentation (application of soft, warm, medicinal substances for pain) of:
  • rheumatic and arthritic joints

Nervine tonic

• mood balancer
  • calms hysteria
  • relieves stress

Cancer treatment & prevention

• prohibits the attachment and metastasis of abnormal cells

A note of caution

Whether eaten, made into tea or tinctured, Red Clover is super good for us. Be careful where you harvest it from, though. Seeing how it’s so good at absorbing minerals and nutrients from the soil, it also draws in pollution, pesticides and other toxins. So harvesting it from roadsides may not be a good idea. Grow it yourself, or find places where you can be reasonably sure it is not tainted.

Side effects of red clover

Red clover is very safe for regular use, for most people and can be taken frequently with no side effects. But because of the natural coumarins, it can have a blood thinning effect. So, it should be avoided by hemophiliacs or people taking pharmaceutical blood thinners, or drugs to prevent blood clots. Also, it should be stopped at least two weeks before having any surgery.

The isoflavones have a similar effect as estrogen, which means red clover may cause birth control pills to be less effective. Also: estrogen-sensitive cancers could be made worse.

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their midwife, herbalist or lactation consultant before using it. Probably best not to – when in doubt, leave it out.

Wildlife

Honey bees prefer white clover, but bumble bees love it. Their long tongues can reach right down to the nectar and the long bloom period ensures a good, constant food source. Many types of butterflies are attracted to it. Song birds love to eat the seeds. It’s also a wonderful food for –

• quail
• grouse
• wild turkey
• partridge
• marmot
• deer
• woodchuck
• squirrels
• mice
• gophers

Lore – Magic – Spirituality

Red clover is steeped in long-standing mystical symbolism. In folkloric tradition, she is associated with protection, prosperity, luck and love. Carrying a red clover flower when signing contracts of any kind, ensures a good outcome.

Druids in the middle ages carried shamrocks, three-leaf clovers, as talismans to help them see evil spirits and, more importantly, ward them off. Out of that tradition, four-leaf clovers later became magical charms of protection and good luck. The Celtic Triskelion symbol is believed to have been inspired by the three leaf and is one of the primary symbols of Paganism.

There is a legend among the indigenous people of Virginia that the flowers of red clover sprang up from the blood of those slain in battle.

Medieval Europeans associated three-leaf with the Holy Trinity and a symbol of Salvation. According to an old legend, Eve took a four-leaf clover with her after she and Adam were expelled from The Garden. A four-leaf clover is a piece of Paradise to carry with you where ever you may go in life.

Red clover flowers are also believed to be a cure for heart-ache. Put them in a blue silk pouch and wear it near the heart. Newly-weds who carry clover in their shoes will have a long and happy marriage…and secretly putting clover sprigs in a traveling husband’s shoes ensures his faithfulness, regardless of how far he roams.

Sleeping with a four-leaf clover under your pillow will bring dreams of your beloved.

In folk magic, ritual baths steeped with red clover attract love and lust. And a flower in your shoe, will attract a new lover. A rich one!

White Clovers, however, are different. They’re about purity. They break hexes because they promote peace and clarity, which drives out negative energy. They’ve long been used in purification rituals. Drinking White Clover tea is said to enhance psychic powers.

But it’s not either/or. Why not have both!?!

In today’s world, we like to think we’re above this silly sort of belief system. But for those of us who are breaking the spell of the dominator culture, along with all it’s arrogant dismissiveness, it’s not far fetched at all. Look at all the wonderful “scientifically proven” properties of this plant. If you are a person who believes the planet is Alive, and part of a Living Universe, that has influence over everything, including your life, then how could the spirits of living plants not influence your life, as well?

Red Clover Recipes

Red Clover Tea

Fill a large pitcher or jar a quarter or so full, with fresh leaves and flowers. If dried, use half that. Pour boiling water up to the top. Let steep for 5 – 10 minutes and strain. Serve hot with honey or maple syrup.

Iced White Clover and Mint Tea

Combine equal parts white clover flowers and mint. 2 cups all together, if fresh, 1 cup all together if dried. Pour 4 cups boiling water over them and steep for at least half an hour. Can be left for up to 4 hours. Strain through cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve and refrigerate. Serve cold, over ice with honey or maple syrup and lemon.

Tincture

After washing, to remove any dirt or bugs, pack as many freshly harvested red clover flowers as you can into a jar. Pack them in as tightly as you can, nearly up to the top.

Fill the jar with vodka. Make sure the flowers are completely covered. Close with a tight fitting lid and put in a cool, dark place. Every few days give the jar a good shake. The color will drain from the flowers as the tincture matures.

After 4 weeks, drain the tincture through cheesecloth and wring it out good, making sure to get every drop. Bottle the tincture in glass bottles.

Red Clover Medicinal Vinegar Extract

Same as the tincture, but use Apple Cider Vinegar instead of vodka. Steep for 4 -6 weeks.

For menopause support, the dosage is 70 – 140 drops, 3 times a day. If counting drops is too tedious, call it a teaspoonfull, scant or brimming over. It doesn’t need to be precise. You can take it straight, put it in water or splash some on a salad.

Clover Blossom Flour

Harvest red and/or white clover blossoms. Together or separately, however you like.

Separate the leaves and flowers and dry separately in a sunny location, safe from cats, dogs and toddlers. The dried leaves will not be part of the flour. You can use them for other things.

It’ll take a few hours to dry out completely in the sun. If you have a dehydrator, use that.

The easiest way is to grind them in small batches, in a coffee grinder. You can use a food processor, but you still want to do it in small batches.

2 cups of dried blossoms will reduce down to about a ½ cup of flour. So, how ever much flour you want, you’ll need to harvest about 8 times that volume of fresh flowers.

It’s not flour, in the true sense. Having no gluten, it doesn’t hold together very well for baking, so you’ll want to mix it with another kind of flour. But it’s a lovely additive that imparts a mildly sweet, greeny flavor and a nice spongy texture.

Red Clover Gluten Free Muffins

1 medium egg, or vegan alternative

¼ cup red clover flour

¾ cup rice flour

3 Tablespoons sugar

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 Tablespoons high quality oil

large coffee cup full of fresh clover blossoms. for the infusion

optional confectioner’s sugar for topping

First make the infusion. Fill a large coffee cup with fresh clover blossoms. Pour boiling water over them and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and set aside.

Next, mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

Beat together the egg or egg replacement with ½ cup of the infusion.

Add the dry ingredients and mix well by hand or on low with a mixer.

Spoon batter into mini, medium or large muffin tins.

Bake at 400°F.

• 5 minutes for 24 mini muffins
• 10 – 12 minutes for 6 medium muffins
• 12 – 15 minutes for 4 large muffins

Muffins are done when a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Put muffin tins on a cookie sheet so as to not burn the bottom of the muffins.

Clever Clover Cookies

1 cup butter – or vegan substitute
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk – or vegan replacement
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup white clover flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup uncooked rolled oats
1 12 oz bag chocolate chips; white, dark or milk, whatever you prefer

You can replace and/or combine nuts and/or raisins with the chocolate chips. What ever combination you come up with, just keep it to 12 ounces, all together.


Preheat oven to 325°F. Cream together the butter/vegan replacement and both sugars. Once smooth, add the egg & egg yolk/vegan replacement, and the vanilla.

In a separate bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients, except for the chocolate chips/nuts/raisins.

Combine the wet and dry ingredients together until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips/nuts/raisins.

Scoop medium size balls of dough onto a cookie sheet (about 24). Bake for 12 to 14 minutes

Red Clover Biscuits

2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup almond flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/3 cup butter at room temperature, or vegan substitute
2 eggs, beaten – or vegan substitute
1/2 cup plain almond milk yogurt
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup dried or fresh red clover flowers, broken up
2 Tablespoons ground flax meal – optional

Preheat oven to 350°F

Combine flour, almond flour, flax meal and baking powder in a bowl. Add butter/vegan replacement and knead until fully blended.

In a separate bowl, mix together the wet ingredients. Add in the broken up pieces of red clover flowers. Blend well.

Gradually mix both together, until completely blended.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured board to about ½” thick. Use a cookie cutter about 1½” in diameter and cut.

Bake on an ungreased baking sheet for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm with jam or jelly.

Clover Blossom Jelly

You will need –

4 cups Clover Blossoms, stems & leaves removed

4 cups boiling bater

4 cups granulated sugar

¼ cup lemon Juice – fresh or bottled

1 3 oz. package of liquid pectin

Candy thermometer

First, make the blossom infusion –

• Prepare 4 cups of clover blossoms, trimming away green portions
  • Rinse in a colander, shaking off excess water
  • In a large saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil
  • Turn off the heat and add the flowers
    • Make sure they are covered
  • Put the lid on the pan and steep for about 45 minutes
    • You can also let it steep over night in the refrigerator, for a more intense flavor.

Cook Clover-Blossom Jelly – About 20 Minutes

• Strain out the flowers
• Measure four cups of the infusion and return it to the saucepan
  • Be sure to use an over-sized pan, as the mixture will rise when boiling
• Add lemon juice and sugar
• Turn heat to medium high, stirring constantly
• Attach the candy thermometer to the side of the pan
• Stir constantly until the infusion reaches the gel point
  • see gel point temperature by altitude, below
• Bring it to a hard boil that won’t stir down
• Add pectin and boil for two more minutes
  • Reduce heat as needed, to avoid boiling over.

Gel Point by Altitude

Sea level to 1000 feet	220°F
1001 – 2000 feet	218°F
2001 – 3000 feet	216°F
3001 – 4000 feet	214°F
4001 – 5000 feet	212°F
5001 – 6000 feet	210°F
6001 – 7000 feet	208°F

Pour into 6 half pint jars with ¼ inch head space if you’re planning on canning it.

Optional Water-Bath Canning Instructions

• Ladle jelly into hot jars, leaving 1/4″ headspace
• Screw on 2-part canning lids
• Place jars in a water-bath canner
  • Covered by at least 1 inch of water
• Boil for 5 minutes
• Remove jars onto a towel, out of drafts
• Allow to cool for 24 hours
• Test the lids to make sure the jars are properly sealed

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