Conditional — Some Areas
crimson clover (zones 5-10) has limited zone overlap with Ohio (5b-6b). Only zones 5-6 in the state are suitable.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Crimson Clover is grown as an annual, so your winter zone isn't the deciding factor — your frost-free window is, and slope, trees, and low spots move the last-frost date across a single yard. Enter your address and we'll score crimson clover against your parcel's actual frost dates, sun, and soil.
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Zone Comparison
Crimson Clover Needs
- USDA Zones: 5-10
- Soil pH: 4.8 - 8.3
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 100+
Ohio Has
- USDA Zones: 5b-6b
- Last Frost: Apr 15 - May 15
- First Frost: Sep 30 - Oct 30
- Annual Rainfall: 34-42 inches
- Common Soils: Glacial till, Clay loam, Silt loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 5-10)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Crimson Clover in Ohio
The frost window
Across Ohio, the last spring frost clears between Apr 15 and May 15, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 30 and Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 138-day window you can count on — up to 198 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Crimson Clover is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 39.2°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 120 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), one crop fits Ohio's 138-day dependable window with 18 days of margin — plant at the front of the window to keep that cushion.
Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Geauga County, not the statewide average.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Crimson Clover wants 100+ frost-free days; a typical Ohio site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Crimson Clover needs ~1600 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~3200 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Ohio's typical season clears that easily.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Crimson Clover likes near-neutral soil (pH 4.8-8.3). That's the common-ground band across Ohio's glacial till and clay loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Ohio site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
Whether crimson clover thrives in Ohio comes down to drainage, and SSURGO drainage class flips from well-drained to poorly-drained parcel to parcel — your soil map unit, not the state average, is the real answer.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Ohio soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Crimson Clover in Ohio — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 5-10 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5b-6b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Apr 15 - May 15 to Sep 30 - Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 120 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Ohio growers also need to think about:
Heavy clay soils across much of northern Ohio require amendment for drainage
A raised bed fixes the drainage in one weekend — and amended clay repays the effort as some of the richest soil there is.
Variable spring weather with late frost risk through mid-May
Watch your local last-frost normal, not the region's — holding tender plants two extra weeks beats replanting a bed.
Japanese beetles and tomato hornworms are common garden pests
Hand-pick early, row-cover young plants, and skip broad sprays — extension IPM guides keep the beneficial insects on your side.
Wet springs can delay planting and promote root rot
Raised or mounded rows shed spring water and warm earlier — where puddles linger, drainage is the first project worth doing.
Growing crimson clover here specifically
Crimson Clover needs sharp drainage and sends medium roots hardy to about 39°F; in Ohio, about 28.6% of soils are poorly-drained (SSURGO), and standing water is what actually kills it.
Build crimson clover up on a coarse, free-draining mound so its roots never sit in saturated soil. How to handle it →
Timing shifts within Ohio
Ohio isn't one climate. In Geauga County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about Apr 4 — roughly 11 days later than the recorded state median — so plant crimson clover to your county's window, not the statewide date.
County last-freeze dates: NOAA/PRISM Climate Normals 1991-2020, 28°F threshold (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Crimson Clover draws pollinators (high value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
Ohio Cooperative Extension
For Ohio-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for crimson clover, the canonical source is Ohio State University Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Crimson Clover native to Ohio?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Crimson Clover as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Ohio's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Ohio natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Ohio growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Crimson Clover in Ohio
When can I plant Crimson Clover in Ohio?
Ohio's last spring frost clears between Apr 15 and May 15, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 30 and Oct 30 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Crimson Clover is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 39.2°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so wait until the last frost has cleared your specific site before planting out.
Can Crimson Clover mature before first frost in Ohio?
Yes — Crimson Clover matures in 120 days (USDA PLANTS Database), and Ohio's dependable frost-free window runs 138 days (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020), leaving 18 days of margin. Plant just after last frost and it ripens ahead of the first fall frost.
What hardiness zone is Crimson Clover grown in across Ohio?
Ohio spans USDA hardiness zones 5b-6b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Crimson Clover carries a range of zones 5-10, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Ohio site have?
A typical Ohio site sees ~190 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Crimson Clover needs 100+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Geauga, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.
Is Crimson Clover native to Ohio?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Crimson Clover as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Ohio's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Ohio natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Crimson Clover in Ohio?
Crimson Clover prefers pH 4.8-8.3 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Ohio soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Crimson Clover actually grow on my specific land in Ohio?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores crimson clover against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Ohio
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores crimson clover against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →