Clover, a member of the legume family (Fabaceae), is a ubiquitous plant known for its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, making it a valuable component in lawns and agricultural fields. This ground-hugging plant is easily recognizable by its characteristic three-leaf pattern and spherical flower heads. Whether clover blooms all summer depends on the specific species planted, its natural growth cycle, and how it is managed.
The General Clover Bloom Cycle
The blooming period for the most common lawn varieties, such as white clover (Trifolium repens), typically begins in late spring, generally around May or early June, once temperatures stabilize. White clover’s flowering habit is its indeterminate growth pattern, meaning the plant does not produce all its flowers at once. Instead, clover generates successive waves of flower heads and seeds throughout the season. New flower stems continually emerge from the creeping stolons, which are the horizontal stems that spread across the ground. This ongoing process allows the plant to appear in continuous bloom from spring until the first hard frost of autumn.
Specific Clover Varieties and Bloom Duration
The ability to bloom continuously during the summer is highly dependent on the variety of clover. White clover is a perennial species that thrives as a low-growing ground cover, spreading laterally via stolons. This growth habit, which allows it to root along the stem as it spreads, directly contributes to its long flowering season and persistence. White clover’s continuous production of new stems and leaves generates flowers simultaneously, which is why it is the variety most associated with all-summer blooming in lawns.
In contrast, Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) has a very different growth structure. It is an upright, short-lived perennial or biennial that grows vertically from a central crown and has larger, more distinct flowers. Red clover tends to have more defined, shorter bloom periods and will produce two or three main flushes of growth and flowers per year, rather than a scattered, continuous bloom. This difference is rooted in the plant’s life cycle; while white clover is truly perennial and spreads indefinitely, red clover often acts as a biennial, with individual plants living only two to three years. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), which is an annual variety, provides a spectacular show of color early in the season but will fade and die out completely by early summer.
Management Techniques for Extended Blooming
The most effective way to encourage perennial clover to bloom for the longest duration is through timely maintenance, especially mowing. When a clover flower head finishes blooming, it begins to set seed, and the plant’s energy shifts away from producing new flowers. Mowing off the spent flower heads before they fully mature signals to the plant that it must generate new blooms to complete its reproductive cycle. Cutting clover to a height of three to four inches removes the fading flowers and stimulates the growth of new ones, often resulting in a fresh wave of blossoms within two to three weeks. Adequate moisture is also important, as drought stress will cause the plant to prioritize survival over flowering.
Clover benefits most from fertilizers low in nitrogen, since it naturally fixes its own supply. Applying a fertilizer with higher levels of phosphorus and potassium can support robust flowering without promoting excessive foliage growth. Maintaining a soil pH between 6.2 and 7.5 also optimizes the plant’s health, ensuring the long-term vigor necessary for continuous summer flowering.