Plant of the Month: Red Clover

Red clover

We grow red clover in the MGLG for two reasons, it is a living mulch and healing herb. Mulches are important when growing food in Texas because of the long hot summers. Any type of mulch helps conserve water for your crops because it prevents the soil from receiving direct sunlight. When direct sunlight can not reach the soil, it allows the soil to remain moist for longer periods of time. In addition to covering the soil, red clover is a legume seed. Legumes are important because rather than depleting nitrogen from the soil in your garden, they add nitrogen to your soil! Not to mention that red clovers invasive tendency also helps keep other harmful weeds from growing prominently. In short, as living mulch, red clover protects the soil from direct sunlight, conserves water, and puts nitrogen into the soil.

In terms of a healing herb red clover is known as a blood purifier. Red and pink flowers from red clover plants can be dried and used as teas or taken in pill form.




The uses for red clover are:

• Hot flashes/flushes

• PMS

• Lowers cholesterol

• helps prevent osteoporosis

• reduces possibility of forming blood clots and arterial plaques

• can limit development of benign prostate hyperplasia

• Breast enhancement and breast health

• Improve urine production

• Improves circulation of the blood and secretion of bile

•  They also act as detergent, sedative and tonic

Red clover has the ability to loosen phlegm and calm bronchial spasms. The fluid extract of red clover is used as an antispasmodic and alternative.

Source: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-red-clover.html