3 Ways to Find a Four Leaf Clover - wikiHow (2024)

  • Categories
  • Education and Communications
  • Studying
  • Science
  • Biology
  • Botany

Download Article

Explore this Article

methods

1Locating Clover Patches

2Searching for a Four-Leaf Clover

3Avoiding Common Mistakes

Other Sections

Video

Tips and Warnings

Related Articles

References

Article Summary

Reviewed byBen Barkan

Last Updated: December 20, 2023Fact Checked

Download Article

Four-leaf clovers are believed to give the finder good luck and fortune. Due to their rarity, they can also be a fun souvenir to have. To find a four-leaf clover, find some clover patches in your area and scan them for a four-leaf clover. Be patient and keep looking, as four-leaf clovers are rare. If you don't find one the first time you go out hunting, keep your eyes peeled in the future. With some dedication, you should eventually find a four-leaf clover of your own.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Locating Clover Patches

Download Article

  1. 1

    Do an online search for clovers in your area. If you're not sure where to find clovers in your area, do an online search for "clover patches" followed by the name of your town. You may find sites with an overview of the types of foliage in the different areas of your town. Users may also leave comments about local parks or trials on sites like Yelp, letting other people know the kinds of plants they found there.

  2. 2

    Walk around local areas with a lot of foliage. If you can't find clovers online, do your own search. Walk around areas with a lot of leaves and trees, like parks and trials, to seek out clover patches.

    • If you have a backyard, look there as well. Clovers often grow in lawns.

    Advertisem*nt

  3. 3

    Check shady, dry areas. Clovers tend to thrive in soil that does not drain well. They also frequently grow in the shade. When out looking for clovers, check shady and dry areas for a clover patch.[1]

  4. 4

    Identify a clover patch. Clover patches are comprised of plants with small green flowers circling a center point. Watch out for plants that look similar to clovers. Plants with purple circles at the center are not clovers. Also, if you see a whole patch of what look like four-leaf clovers, these are not clovers. Remember, four-leaf clovers are rare. There is one four-leaf clover for every 10,000 three-leaf clover in a patch.[2]

  5. Advertisem*nt

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Searching for a Four-Leaf Clover

Download Article

  1. 1

    Scan the patch carefully. Do not try to look at every clover individually, as this will take far too long. Instead, stand above the patch and scan it closely. Pause if a clover jumps out at you and check to see if it has four leaves.[3]

  2. 2

    Skim the surface with your hands. If scanning from a distance isn't working, crouch near the clover patch. Run your hands over the clover patch slowly. Focus in on the clovers as they pass through your fingers, checking for clovers with extra leaves.[4]

  3. 3

    Push the leaves apart if you think you see a four-leaf clover. If you see what appears to be a four-leaf clover, push away the clovers surrounding it. See if it actually has four leaves. Clovers sometimes look like they have four leaves, but you're really seeing leaves from another clover clustering near it.

  4. 4

    Look in the same area if you find a four leaf clover. If you happen to find a four-leaf clover, keep looking in that area. Four-leaf clovers are caused by a genetic mutation. Therefore, they tend to be found close together as the seeds will spread around the same area. You may be lucky enough to find a second four-leaf clover.

  5. Advertisem*nt

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Download Article

  1. 1

    Don't try to look at every individual clover. Scanning the leaves works better than examining every leaf. As there are hundreds of clovers in a single patch, you won't have time to look at them all. If you scan the leaves instead, a difference in the general pattern may jump out at you.[5]

  2. 2

    Look for smaller leaves on four-leaf clovers. Don't expect a four-leaf clover to have completely even leaves. Keep in mind, when scanning for a four-leaf clover, the clover's fourth leaf may be significantly smaller than the others.

  3. 3

    Don't get discouraged. Four-leaf clovers are incredibly rare. The more often you search, the more likely you are to find one. If you don't find a four-leaf clover on your first search, keep an eye out each time you pass a clover patch. The more often you look, the more likely you are to eventually find a four-leaf clover.[6]

  4. Advertisem*nt

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

  • Question

    What makes four leaf clovers so rare?

    3 Ways to Find a Four Leaf Clover - wikiHow (17)

    Community Answer

    Researchers at the University of Georgia have found a rare recessive gene that causes clovers to have three leaves more often than they have four leaves.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

    YesNo

    Not Helpful 49Helpful 198

  • Question

    I think that the best time to find a four leaf clover is when it is raining or soggy outside and it is really cool.

    3 Ways to Find a Four Leaf Clover - wikiHow (18)

    Community Answer

    You might be right, for that might be your lucky time. Perhaps you have a reason you might share with us as to why this time works best for you - maybe the extra leaf causes the plant to show itself differently in the rain, perhaps it sags more?

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

    YesNo

    Not Helpful 47Helpful 170

  • Question

    Why don't they grow well in flowerbeds?

    3 Ways to Find a Four Leaf Clover - wikiHow (19)

    Community Answer

    When another plant is already taking up the soil nutrients, space and light, other plants find it hard to compete. If the flowerbed is well tended, all weed plants (including clover) will also be frequently removed. However, a flowerbed that is sparse and poorly cared for might allow clover to grow.

    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

    YesNo

    Not Helpful 34Helpful 124

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

      Advertisem*nt

      Video

      Tips

      • Four-leaf clovers are more abundant in disturbed and/or trampled areas. Look along footpaths and trails that run through a clover patch.

        Thanks

        Helpful19Not Helpful1

      • Once clover is picked it will wilt very quickly unless you put it in water or press it in a book.

        Thanks

        Helpful12Not Helpful2

      • You can find more four-leaf clovers in March, April, May, June, July, and August too.

        Thanks

        Helpful18Not Helpful6

      Show More Tips

      Submit a Tip

      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

      Submit

      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      Advertisem*nt

      You Might Also Like

      The Ultimate Guide to Starting and Growing a Clover LawnHow toImprove Your Luck
      How toMeasure the Height of a TreeHow toDetermine the Age of a TreeHow toHunt for Wild GinsengHow toMeasure Growth Rate of PlantsHow toCount Tree RingsHow toClone PlantsHow to Determine the Difference Between Palm Tree SpeciesHow toKill Cedar TreesHow toIdentify a Black Walnut TreeHow toTell Raspberries and Blackberries ApartHow toDissect a FlowerHow toIdentify Trees

      Advertisem*nt

      About This Article

      3 Ways to Find a Four Leaf Clover - wikiHow (34)

      Reviewed by:

      Ben Barkan

      Garden & Landscape Designer

      This article was reviewed by Ben Barkan. Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 12 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, is licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and is a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor. He holds an associates degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This article has been viewed 641,037 times.

      46 votes - 84%

      Co-authors: 83

      Updated: December 20, 2023

      Views:641,037

      Categories: Featured Articles | Botany

      Article SummaryX

      To find a four-leaf clover, stand over the clover patch and scan for any clovers that catch your eye or look different. Avoid inspecting every single clover in the patch, though, since this can be time-consuming! You can also run your hands over the clover patch slowly and feel for clovers that have extra leaves. If you happen to find a four-leaf clover, keep looking in that area, since they tend to grow close together! For tips on locating clover patches, read on!

      Did this summary help you?

      In other languages

      Spanish

      Portuguese

      German

      Russian

      French

      Indonesian

      • Print
      • Send fan mail to authors

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 641,037 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • 3 Ways to Find a Four Leaf Clover - wikiHow (35)

        Henrijs Tihomirovs

        Jun 11, 2022

        "I'm a 16 year old boy. This is my second 4 leaf clover. Thought it would be cool if I found another, because..." more

        Rated this article:

      More reader storiesHide reader stories

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisem*nt

      3 Ways to Find a Four Leaf Clover - wikiHow (2024)

      References

      Top Articles
      Latest Posts
      Article information

      Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

      Last Updated:

      Views: 6650

      Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

      Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

      Author information

      Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

      Birthday: 1992-10-31

      Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

      Phone: +6111989609516

      Job: Chief Farming Manager

      Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

      Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.