| Scientific name: | Trifolium incarnatum |
| Cultivars: | Dixie, Flame (selected from old Dixie), Balsana, AU Robin |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Growth Habit: | Erect, 2-3 ft tall |
| Life Cycle: | Summer annual |
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| Use |
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| Production: | Early forage production; ~4,000 - 5,000 lbs/acreUse in hay, pasture, cover crop, and soil improvementLower in infertile soils Highest yields are obtained when utilized at bloomingUse as Green Manure after summer for fall plantings since plants decompose rapidly in soil |
| Nutritive Value: | Variable depending on maturity; typically medium to high crude protein & medium to high digestibility.Moderate bloat potential |
| Herbaria Image: | Click this link |
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| Identification |
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| Seed Head: | Elongated capitate or capitulum (globose like)Self-fertile flowers |
| Seed: | Twice the size of red clover; seed shatters easily when ripe; viability decreases fast after 2 yrs.Hard seed production varies from 35 to 75%. 'Flame" has higher hard seed for reseeding than 'Dixie" 60 lb/bushel; Inoculate with proper N-fixi |
| Shoot: | Upright, pubescent (hairy) |
| Leaf: | Rounded, pubescent leaves, no watermark |
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| Adaptation |
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| Soil: | Sandy, and sandy-loam, and clay loam Poorly adapted to peat, light soils and muck |
| pH: | 5.5-7.0 |
| Moisture: | 30-70 inches; if moisture is lacking at seedling it may compromise stand but hard seed helps with later germination |
| Temperature: | Moderately to poor winter hardy |
| Other: | |
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| Establishment - Management |
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| Seeding rate: | Alone: 20-25 lb/acre (unhulled); 12-15 lbs/acre (hulled= outer coating removed);
In mixes: 15-18 lb/acre (unhulled) + 1/3 of normal rate for companion crop (small grain or ryegrass); or 9-11 lb/acre (if hulled) + 1/3 of normal rate for companion cr |
| Seed cost: | $1.5 to 2.0/lb |
| Planting date: | Spring to early summer (1st week in June) |
| Planting depth: | 1/4 to 1/2 inch. If seeding with companion crop you will need to seed crimson in one operation, then chain the settings deeper for the larger seed companion crop
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| Frost seeding: | Yes. Late winter. |
| Fertilization: | P and K and micronutrients according to soil test. Responds to Boron in soils that are defficient. |
| Grazing: | Graze when at 8-10 inches tall, and stop grazing at 3-5 in Rest period: 10-20 days; if wanting to reseed need to remove animals early (end of July). |
| Hay: | Harvest at early bloom. More yield with full bloom |
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| Notes |
| In mixes with red clover, crimson provides forage earlier on, and red provides forage once crimson dies due to temperature.Do not graze or feed mature crimson hay to horses as the hairs accumulate forming hair balls that causes serious disorders (cattle and sheep are fine)Use one bee colony/acre for good pollination |
