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White Clover

©Philip Precey

White clover

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Scientific name: Trifolium repens
A familiar 'weed' of gardens, roadsides, meadows and parks, White clover is famous for its trefoil leaves - look out for a lucky four-leaf clover in your own garden!

Top facts

Stats

Height: up to 40cm

Conservation status

Common.

When to see

May to October

About

White clover is a very common plant of all kinds of grassy areas in the UK, from lawns to pastures, roadsides to meadows, as both a wild and sown flower. The famous trefoil leaves are collected by Wood Mice and are one of the foodplants of the common blue butterfly; the flowers appear from May to October and are sought after by all kinds of bumblebees.

What to look for

Most white clover leaves have the familiar trefoil look with three green leaflets, often bearing white markings. The white, sometimes pinkish, flowers have rounded heads.

Where to find

Widespread.

Did you know?

There are clover farms in the USA that specialise in growing four-leaf clovers which they harvest and sell as good luck charms.