White clover


Pasture with white clover - Photo by Harry Rose

White clover can be grown as a companion crop among lawn grasses. It tolerates close mowing and is considered to be a beneficial component of lawn care because it can fix nitrogen and competes with lawn weeds.

White clover is also a good forage crop for livestock.

The leaves are edible and can be used raw in salads or can be boiled to make them easier to digest.

Names

Scientific
   Trifolium repens
English
   Dutch clover
   White clover
Dutch
   Witte klaver
Spanish
   Trébol blanco
French
   Trèfle blanc
   Trèfle rampant
German
   Kriech-Klee
   Weiß-Klee
Italian
   Trifoglio bianco
   Trifoglio ladino
   Trifoglio rampicante

Taxonomy

Genus
   Trifolium
Family
   Fabaceae
Order
   Fabales

Basic information and facts

Origin:

While clover is native to Europe and Central Asia.

Distribution:

Worldwide distribution

Annual, biennial, or perennial:

White clover is a herbaceous, perennial plant.

Flowers:

At the end of 7 cm long flower stalks, heads of white flowers with a width of 1.5 to 2 centimeters. Older flowers may show some pinkish or cream color.

Leaves:

Trifoliate leaves. The leaves are elliptic or egg-shaped and often have light or dark markings.

Climate and weather:

Grows best in temperate climate.

Propagation:

Propagated from seed.

Uses:

White clover can be grown together with lawn grasses, which are enhanced by its ability to fix nitrogen and to compete with lawn weeds. It is also a good forage crop for livestock and a source of pollen and nectar for bees.

The leaves are edible and can be used raw in salads or can be boiled for example in soups.

Proverbs and Quotes

  • If a man who cannot count finds a four-leaf clover, is he lucky? (Stanislaw J. Lec)
  • Many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers.
  • A friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find but lucky to keep.

Did you know that?

  • White clover leaves are normally trifoliate, but sometimes a four-leaf clover is found. According to tradition, these leaves bring good luck to their finders. They are called “lucky clover” or “lucky leaf”.
  • In lucky clover, the first leaf represents “faith”, the second represents “hope”, the third “love”, and the fourth “luck”.

Crop categories

Forage and fodder crops
Green manures
Legumes
Temperate crops

Pictures


Pasture with white clover - Photo by Harry Rose


White clover leaves - Photo by Harry Rose


White clover with honeybee - Photo by Maja Dumat


White clover bloom - Photo by William Warby


White clover - Photo by Free Photos

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