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White Clover

©Philip Precey

White clover

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!

Species information

Category

Statistics

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.
Looking for a lucky four-leaf clover is a common game among children.

How to identify

Most White clover leaves have the familiar trefoil look with three green leaflets, often bearing white markings. The white (sometime pinkish) flowers are borne in rounded heads.

Distribution

Widespread.

Habitats

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.

How people can help

Our gardens are a vital resource for wildlife, providing corridors of green space between open countryside, allowing species to move about. In fact, the UK's gardens provide more space for nature than all the National Nature Reserves put together. So why not try leaving wilder areas in your garden, such as patches of buttercups in your lawn or nettles near your compost heap, to see who comes to visit? To find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there's plenty of facts and tips to get you started.