While many people think of the four-leaf clover as a lucky charm, many different types of clover exist that have different meanings to different cultures and religions worldwide.
Some even have powers! If you’re interested in bringing some luck into your life.
Also, if you just want to learn more about the fascinating world of plants, keep reading to learn about the most common clover types and their meanings.
Red Clover
Red clover is a common sight in meadows and pastures throughout the United States and Europe.
It’s often considered a weed, but this herb has a long history of use in folk medicines among different types of clover.
Red clover treats skin conditions, respiratory problems, and menopausal symptoms.
The flowers can be brewed into an infusion or tincture, or the leaves can be eaten fresh or cooked.
Clustered Clover
This clover is often found in meadows, pastures, and waste areas. It is a short-lived perennial that blooms from May to June.
However, Clustered clover has small, dark green leaves with white flowers that grow in clusters.
This plant is drought-tolerant and does well in full sun or partial shade of different types of clover.
Showy Indian Clover
This clover is an annual that blooms from mid-spring to early summer. It prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade and does best in well-drained soil.
Moreover, the showy Indian clover (Trifolium amoenum) can reach up to two feet tall.
Compared to other types of clover, its leaves are deep green with a white V-shaped mark. The flowers are pink, purple, or white and grow in clusters.
Small White Clover
Did you know that there are different types of clover? If you’re looking for love, you might want to consider carrying a sprig of clover with you. A small white clover is a good luck charm.
In short, this particular clover, out of different types of clover, is native to Europe and Asia but can now be found worldwide.
The flowers are small and white, and the leaves are arranged in threes. Finding a four-leaf clover is said to be even luckier!
White Clover
One of the most popular types of clover, white clover, is often found in lawns and pastures.
It’s a perennial plant that can tolerate various soil and weather conditions. White clover has small, white flowers that bloom from May to September.
So, this type of clover is a nitrogen fixer, meaning it helps improve soil quality.
White clover is also known for attracting bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Longstalk Clover
A pea family member, long stalk clover is a perennial herb characterized by its long, hairy stalks. This clover is found in North America’s meadows, pastures, and roadsides.
Notwithstanding, Longstalk clover (Trifolium longipes) is a nitrogen-fixing plant among different clover types, which helps improve soil quality. The leaves of this plant are used as fodder for livestock.
Subterranean Clover
Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) is a low-growing, creeping plant often used as a cover crop or ground cover. It has small, trifoliate leaves and white or pink flowers.
These different types of clover are native to Europe and were introduced to North America in the early 1800s.
Notably, It is now found throughout the United States and Canada. Subterranean clover is tolerant of poor soils and can be used to improve soil fertility and structure. This type of clover can also help control erosion.
Bull Clover
Bull clover (Trifolium fucatum) is a short-lived perennial in the pea family native to the western United States.
It has large, heart-shaped leaves and produces small, red-orange flowers.
The plant gets its name because it is often found growing in fields with cattle.
Bull clover is also known as sour clover because of the lemony smell of its leaves when they are crushed among different types of clover.
Pinpoint Clover
This type of clover is found throughout the western United States and Canada. It has fragile, delicate leaves that are often mistaken for grass. The flowers are a beautiful pinkish-purple color and bloom from June to August.
However, Slender clover is an excellent choice of different types of clover for gardens because it is drought tolerant and does not require much maintenance.
Egyptian Clover
As its name suggests, Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) is native to Egypt.
This type of clover has been used medicinally for centuries and is known for its healing properties among different types of clover.
Egyptian clover is a legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil, making it ideal for agricultural use.
This hardy plant can tolerate drought and poor soil conditions. It is a low-growing plant that produces white or pink flowers.
Cup Clover
This type of clover gets its name from the shape of its leaves, which resemble small cups or bowls. Cup clover is native to Europe and Asia but can now be found worldwide.
These different types of clover are known for being easy to grow and tolerant to different soil types.
Whereas Cup clover is often used as a cover crop or green manure crop due to its ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. This type of clover can also be used as animal feed.
Brewer’s Clover
If you find this type of clover, you might be in for some good luck. It’s said that finding forest clover means you will soon find your true love.
This type of clover is also known as Brewer’s clover, and it was once used to make beer before hops became the famous ingredient.
Generally, the Forest clover has small, white flowers and three heart-shaped leaves compared to other types of clover. The leaves are said to represent hope, faith, and love.
Suckling Clover
Suckling clover (Lesser trefoil) is a small, low-growing annual found throughout the United States. It has heart-shaped leaves and small, yellow flowers.
The plant gets its name from how the leaves curl around the stem, giving it a suckling appearance.
Also, suckling clover is often considered a weed, but it can be used as a different type of clover forage for livestock.
Few-flowered Clover
This low-growing clover (Trifolium oliganthum) is found throughout most of the United States. Small, white flowers appear in early spring and last until fall.
Meanwhile, the leaves are dark green and have three leaflets. This clover is often used as a ground cover or for erosion control for different clovers.
Monterey Clover
A pea family member, this low-growing annual is a different type of clover, and it is often used as a cover crop or forage crop.
It’s found throughout California and is known for its nitrogen-fixing abilities.
In addition, the leaves have a distinctive shape, with three oval-shaped leaflets, each about an inch long.
Monterey clover (Trifolium trichocalyx) produces small, pinkish-white flowers that bloom in the spring.
Hare’s-foot Clover
This low-growing clover is found in pastures, meadows, and roadsides throughout the United States. It gets its name from its furry, hare’s-foot-shaped leaves.
Nonetheless, hare’s foot clover (Trifolium arvense) is a nitrogen-fixing plant that helps improve soil quality. It is often used as a cover crop or as forage for livestock.
Ruddy Clover
This type of clover is characterized by its bright red color. It is a perennial plant that blooms from May to September.
So, Ruddy clover (Trifolium rubens)is found in meadows, pastures, and roadside verges in Europe and North America.
This type of clover is also famous for gardens and landscaping due to its showy flowers and ability to attract bees.
Cowbag clover/poverty clover
This type of clover is known as Dutch clover (Trifolium depauperate), and it’s easy to see among different types of clover. It’s a small, low-growing plant often found in poor soil.
Despite its humble appearance, cow bag clover is quite a lucky charm. In the language of flowers, it symbolizes good fortune and prosperity.
So, if you’re looking for extra luck in your life, this is the clover for you!
Thimble Clover
This type of clover is also known as Trifolium, pratense different kinds of clover. It’s a perennial plant that usually blooms in May or June.
Moreover, The flowers are small and pink, and the leaves have a white V-shaped mark. This plant is found in Europe, Asia, and North America.
Bearded clover (Trifolium barbigerum)
Bearded clover is a low-growing annual used as a cover crop or groundcover. It has dark green, hairy leaves and small, white flowers.
Still, Bearded clover is native to Europe and Asia but can also be found in North America. These different types of clover are said to bring good luck in love.
Bolander’s clover/parasol clover (Trifolium bolanderi)
This type of clover is found in the western United States and gets its name from Bolander, a 19th-century Californian botanist. The flowers are white with a yellow center and have a parasol-like shape of different types of clover.
They bloom from May to September and attract bees, butterflies, and pollinators. This clover is used as a cover crop and is sometimes grown in ornamental gardens.
Five leaf clover/Anderson’s clover (Trifolium Anderson)
Anderson’s clover is a perennial herb that grows in the western United States. It has leaves arranged in a whorl of three, each with five leaflets.
However, the flowers are white or pink and bloom in the spring. This clover is also known as the five-leaf clover because of its leaves and is considered lucky.
Santa Cruz clover (Trifolium buckwestiorum)
This clover is endemic to the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. It’s a perennial herb with leaves with three oval-shaped leaflets of different types of clover.
In particular, the flowers are white or pink and bloom from May to August. Santa Cruz clover is found in open, grassy areas like meadows, hillsides, and roadsides.
Woollyhead clover/hairy head clover (Trifolium eriocephalum)
A pea family member, this annual clover is also known as hairy head clover and woolly head clover. It is an erect plant that can grow up to two feet tall and has purple flowers. The leaves are hairy, which is how it got its name.
Finally, It is a nitrogen-fixing plant, which helps improve the soil quality where different types of clover are planted. It is native to Europe and Asia but can also be found in North America.
Western clover (Trifolium occidentale)
This clover is often found in the western United States and gets its name from its three oval-shaped leaves. Each leaf has a white V-shaped mark.
Therefore, the flowers are small and tubular and can be red, white, or yellow. Western clover is a short-lived perennial that does best in well-drained soils among different types of clover.
Hollyleaf clover (Trifolium gymnocarpon)
Hollyleaf clover is a pea family member and is native to California. It’s an annual herb with green leaves and white or pink flowers.
The plant gets its name from the three leaflets on each leaf, which are said to resemble a sheep’s head.
In essence, each leaf also has a small, black spot in the center, which is said to be lucky. Hollyleaf clover is considered an invasive species in some parts of the world, but it’s also used as a cover crop and for erosion control, just like some other different types of clover.
Clammy clover (Trifolium obtusiflorum)
Clammy clover is a perennial forb that blooms from May to June. It is found in pastures, roadsides, and waste areas. This low-growing plant has small, dark green leaves and white or pink flowers.
So, the flowers are on long stalks that grow from the leaf axils. Each different types of clover head contain 10-20 florets. Clammy clover comes from the sticky, resinous substance that covers the plant.
Large head clover (Trifolium macrocephalum)
This clover is known as the bull’s head clover and is native to Europe. It has large, rounded heads of red or white flowers that can reach up to four inches in diameter.
Similarly, the leaves are green with a white V-shaped mark. This clover is considered lucky because it is said to bring good luck and fortune to those who find It among different types of clover.
Canyon clover/Howell’s clover (Trifolium howellii)
This clover is native to California and can be found in the Sierra Nevada range. It has dark green leaves with a white or light green V-shaped mark.
Nevertheless, the white or pink flowers bloom from May to August. Canyon clover is a good plant for erosion control and attracts bees, butterflies, and birds.
Beckwith’s clover (Trifolium beckwithii)
Beckwith’s clover is a native species that grows in the western United States. It is a short-lived perennial that blooms in the spring and early summer. The flowers are white or pink and are on long, upright stems.
Although, Beckwith’s clover is often found in disturbed habitats, such as roadsides and fields. This species, among different types of clover, can be distinguished from other clovers by its small, round leaves and hairy stems.
Mountain carpet clover (Trifolium monanthum)
This type of clover is also known as woolly heads or ladies’ cushions and is a native of Europe. It’s a short-lived perennial that forms dense mats of foliage, and its leaves are hairy and gray-green.
This is to say, flowers appear in early summer and are white or pink with a yellow center. This clover is often used as an ornamental ground cover.
Siberian clover (Trifolium lupinaster)
A member of the legume family, the Siberian clover is a fast-growing annual that produces an abundance of nectar. This type of clover is often used as a cover crop or green manure due to its nitrogen-fixing properties.
Notably, it’s not the most attractive clover of the different types of clover, and its usefulness makes it a popular choice among farmers and gardeners.
Low hop clover (Trifolium campestre, hop trefoil)
This variety of clover is a nitrogen fixer, which means it helps improve soil quality. It’s often used as a cover crop or ground cover. Low hop clover is a short-lived perennial, which means it will come back year after year for a few years before needing to be replanted.
Meanwhile, this clover variety is low-growing (about 6 inches tall) and has small, dark green leaves. The flowers are yellow and bloom in early summer.
Large hop clover/golden clover (Trifolium aureum, large trefoil)
This is the type of clover often found in lawns and pastures. It’s easy to identify by its large, three-lobed leaves that are a deep green. The flowers are yellow and bloom from May to September.
Moreover, Large hop clover is a nitrogen-fixing plant, which means it helps improve soil quality. It’s also a good food source for bees and other pollinators for different types of clover.
Zigzag clover (Trifolium medium)
A hardy annual zigzag clover is a nitrogen-fixing legume that can reach up to 12 inches in height. Its leaves are arranged in a zigzag pattern and have a V-shaped mark at the base.
However, the white or pink flowers bloom from May to August. Zigzag clover is often used as a cover crop or green manure.
Running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum)
One of the most exciting types of clover is the running buffalo clover. This clover gets its name from the fact that Native Americans once used it to help them hunt buffalo.
Therefore, the plant has a robust root system, which allows it to run across the ground. The flowers of this clover are white or pink, and they bloom from June to August.
Cows clover/coast clover (Trifolium wormskioldii)
Cows clover is a perennial herb native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to North America and is now in all 50 states. This species among different types of clover is the most commonly cultivated clover in the world.
In other words, the Cows clover gets its name because it is often used as fodder for cattle. The leaves of this plant are trifoliate, meaning they have three leaflets. Each leaflet is oval-shaped and has a toothed margin.
Above all, the flowers are small and white and are borne in clusters at the ends of the stems. The fruit is a small, dry capsule that contains two seeds.
Mountain clover (Trifolium montanum)
The first type of clover on our list is the mountain clover. This North American native blooms in a beautiful pinkish-purple color and can be found in the western United States.
So, If you’re lucky enough to find mountain clover, it’s said that it can bring you good luck in love. So if you’re looking for a little extra luck in your love life, keep your eyes peeled for this unique clover of different types of clover.
Chilean clover/double-head clover (Trifolium macraei)
This clover is native to South America but has been introduced to other continents. It is a small, compact plant with rounded leaves.
The flowers are white or pink and have two petals each. This clover is often used as an ornamental plant but can also be used for different grazing types of clover.
Foothill clover (Trifolium ciliolatum)
Foothill clover is a perennial herb that grows in the foothills of the western United States. It has small, round leaves and white or pink flowers. On balance, this clover is often used as an ornamental plant in gardens.
Purple-globe clover (Trifolium alpestre)
This species is found across Europe, Asia, and North America. It has been used as a forage crop and as green manure. It is drought-tolerant and able to grow on poor soils.
Though, the leaves are dark green with a purple flower head. Each plant can produce up to 250 seeds.
Alpine clover (Trifolium alpinum)
Did you know that there are over 300 species of clover? That’s a lot of lucky clovers! While the four-leaf clover is the most popular. However, there are many other types that each have their unique meaning from the list of different kinds of clover and what they represent
Narrowleaf crimson clover (Trifolium angustifolium)
Narrowleaf crimson clover is a type of clover native to Europe and Asia. It has been introduced to North America and is now found in some states in the wild.
This clover is a legume family member, which means it can fix nitrogen from the air into the soil. Above all, this makes it a valuable plant for farmers and gardeners who want to improve the quality of their soil.
Crimson clover
Crimson clover is also a popular type of clover crop because it grows quickly and densely, smothering weeds. The leaves of this clover are narrow and have a deep crimson color. Moreover, the flowers are also crimson and bloom from May to June.
Rose clover (Trifolium hirtum)
This species, also known as red clover, is found throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. It’s a herbaceous annual or biennial plant often used as a cover crop.
With this in mind, the flowers are pink or white, and the leaves are dark green with three oval-shaped leaflets. Red clover is considered lucky in love among different types of clover because it’s said to attract good luck and fortune.
Knotted clover (Trifolium striatum)
Have you ever been out for a walk and seen a field of beautiful clover? Only to get up close and realize that the plants have little black knots all over them? This is knotted clover, one of North America’s most common types of clover.
Nonetheless, the black knots are galls caused by a fungus that infects the plant. While they may not be the prettiest type of clover, they’re still considered lucky because they signify good luck in love.
Conclusion
Though often considered a weed, clover is a very beneficial plant. It helps to improve soil quality, prevents erosion, and can be used as animal feed.
Therefore, there are many types of clover, each with unique benefits. So the next time you see a four-leaf clover, consider yourself lucky! Maybe not so magical after all, but there’s no denying that these plants are pretty unique.
After all, how many other plants do you know that give bees homes for their honeycomb? If there’s one thing that all these different types of clover have in common, it’s that they do us good by simply being what they are
