What Is the Meaning of the Clover? A Detailed Explanation of Its Floral Symbolism

The clover is a very romantic plant. So what is the meaning of the clover? Here is a detailed introduction for you.

The clover plant is low-growing with many branches; its creeping stems grow along the ground, and roots and new shoots form wherever a node touches the soil. It has compound leaves with three leaflets; the leaflets are obovate or obcordate, wedge-shaped at the base, blunt or slightly notched at the tip, with fine serrated edges and a V-shaped white marking in the center of the leaf surface; the stipules are oval and clasp the stem. It blooms in summer and autumn, with head-like racemes that are spherical, long peduncles, and white flowers, occasionally pale red. It flowers and sets seed continuously, the seeds ripening at different times, and the seeds are tiny.

The Floral Meaning of the Clover

Happiness;

One-leaf clover represents hope;

Two-leaf clover represents giving;

Three-leaf clover represents love.

How to Grow Clover

It prefers warm, sunny conditions and well-drained soil. Under drought conditions it grows slowly, and in hot seasons some plants wither and die. It tolerates pruning and trampling well and has strong regeneration ability; within 10d after pruning it can grow new small leaves. After heavy trampling or rolling, it can recover in 3 to 5d. Under heavy shade it tends to grow leggy, resulting in poor growth. It has strong resistance to harmful gas pollution and to pests and diseases.

The Legend of the Clover

Legend One: It is said that the name "lucky clover" comes from Napoleon. Once, while leading his troops across a grassland, he found a four-leaf clover and thought it very strange. As he bent down to pick it, he happened to dodge a bullet fired at him and escaped disaster. From then on he called the four-leaf clover the lucky clover. Through the ages it has been passed down, and the four-leaf clover has been internationally recognized as a symbol of good luck. Its four leaves represent love, health, fame and wealth respectively, and owning it will bring you good luck.

Legend Two: Once there was a couple who truly loved each other and lived together in a very beautiful peach grove, but because of a very small matter they had a quarrel and neither would give in. Finally one day, the goddess of love could not stand it anymore. She drifted to the peach grove where they lived and quietly told a lie: she told them that each of them would face disaster, and that only by finding that four-leaf clover in the deepest part of the peach grove could they be saved. After hearing this, they pretended to be completely indifferent, but in their hearts they still worried about each other. That night it rained, a torrential rain, but they still secretly went to the deepest part of the peach grove to look for the four-leaf clover for each other. When they learned how much the other cared, they were both deeply moved and decided to let the four-leaf clover witness their love. The goddess of love laughed; this was a joke she played, because she did not want happiness to come too easily. Only those who care for each other and cherish each other deserve to have happiness. The four-leaf clover, a witness to love!

Clover Culture

1. In Ireland, on St. Patrick's Day every March 17, everyone wears a clover bloom. It is said that St. Patrick once used a clover to explain the Trinity to the freedom-loving Irish people. It is unclear whether what St. Patrick used as a metaphor was originally the clover or the yellow-flowered harebell. However, the clover is a symbol typically adopted by Christianity. It was already, very early on, a symbol of the threefold unity of the three grades of Celtic priests. And the vigorous growth of the clover also made it a symbol of vitality. The Druids had long since given the four-leaf clover the same meaning it has today, that is, happiness.

2. Now, the clover has become a folk tradition in Western countries. Children take pleasure in searching for four-leaf clovers on the grassland, and every March in New York, at St. Patrick's Day, people wear green clothing and bring good-luck charms, four-leaf clover ornaments, to the parade.

3. Irish folklore says that the four-leaf clover can bring good luck and is Ireland's most famous national symbol. At traditional Irish weddings, the bride's bouquet and the groom's boutonniere must both include the lucky clover. The lucky clover is considered the indispensable third person at the wedding.

That is all for today's introduction to the meaning of the clover. I hope it is helpful to you.