Red Clover

RED CLOVER

Grassland Plant

Species: Trifolium pratense

Risk: None, Edible

Fields and pastures throughout Missouri are home to millions of these small pink flowering plants. 

They have been part common in folklore for generations. We've all heard of the luck in finding a four-leaf clover. However, many people see their usefulness going no further than luck and food for grazing livestock. 

Every part of this small blossom, from the roots to its pink flower is edible. The flower contains protein as well as Vitamin C. A Red Clover salad can be made using all parts of the plant. The blossoms can be dried used to make teas and add flavor to soups and stews. It can also be dried and ground into flour for use in other cooking recipes. It can be quite a bountiful resource given the sheer volume of it there is to be found.

The leaves can be used to make salads and add filler to any meal. Eaten raw, Red Clovers can be quite difficult to digest. Boiling and cooking any parts to be consumed is recommended in order to make it a safer and more enjoyable experience.

It is also better to find new and fresh sprouts that have yet to flower to assure quality. Older or dead clovers can be very unpalatable and potentially unsafe to eat. Harvest your salad with care. 

NOTES

It is not advised to eat this plant, or any wild edible, raw. Wild edibles should always be sanitized and cooked in order to kill any harmful bacteria that can live on or in them. The benefits of a meal gathered from the wild may not outweigh the risks of illness due to food borne bacteria.