Why do clovers have 3 leaves

They like bright, indirect light and tend to bloom in fall, winter, or spring. Since they are grown from bulbs, let them dry out a bit between waterings to prevent rot. It just needs a dormant period, so let it dry out and put the pot in a dark place until it decides to resume growth in a few weeks. As soon as new leaves appear, bring it into the light and resume watering. These plants are low maintenance and long lived. Purple Shamrock Oxalis triangularis. Lucky Clover Oxalis tetraphylla.

Oxalis houseplants all contain oxalic acid, the same chemical that makes rhubarb leaves and daffodils toxic. Now that you know the true identity of the shamrock, check out our St.

We use to eat clover raw. Great for salads. All parts of the plant. Sorry bees, but the flower is especially nice. The little, suburban lawns in my neighborhood generally all have clover making an appearance, though it doesn't take over.

Most people only notice it during the first bloom or two, when it's growing fast enough for the flowers to form before the lawn needs cutting.

The white puffs look great scattered around, in my opinion, now and then a yellow mixed in. I took it a step further and sprinkled some extra clover seed, especially in the back yard where the squirrels like to dig - the grass isn't so great after a squirrel party but the added clover fills in fast.

I also purchased some pink clover seed - not sure exactly what it's called, but the pink refers to the flower color, which leans more toward a pale purple. It grows up to about 2 feet tall unattended and can be found locally in fields, etc. But it's great to fill in any mostly to partly space with nice blooms that will go all season. I have a new curbside cherry tree the village installed a few years ago, which I surrounded with clover at the base. I didn't want to dig and disturb the newly planted tree by inserting flowers from the nursery, and clover is beneficial to the soil, so I sprinkled seeds.

I had cool clover greenery within a few weeks, followed by tons of purplish puff flowers. Water daily, lightly, until germinated and that's all you have to do unless you see the plants wilt during extreme dry spells. I do water the cherry tree deeply a few times each season and the clover tolerate the damp no problem, too.

The blooms can be cut and will last in a small vase sometimes up to a week indoors. Once the flowers fade the first time, just cut the clover down by about half - it will come back very fast and look great again in a week. I cut it back about 3 or 4 times each season, takes only a minute or two, and I have blooms around the cherry tree well into October.

I like that most people don't know what it is unless they look closely at the leaves and I like that it's not the typical impatiens or marigolds, etc. Added bonuses: it comes back every year, of course, the seed is inexpensive, the nitrogen boosts the soil and my cherry tree is the biggest in the area - the village planted tons of them after having to removed dead ash trees, killed by the ash borer beetle a few years ago, to halt the infestation.

I can't think of any other explanation why my cherry tree is easily two and a half times bigger than all the others but for the clover and the fact that I watered the clover seed along with the tree. I have some clover patches here and there in other parts of the garden that I let grow tall and bloom, too. Highly recommend. Very easy to tend and unique. My high school had a courtyard outside the lunchroom and it was crammed with clovers! We would find 4 and more leaf clovers all the time.

Patrick story or which was featured in early Celtic artwork. Before the 17th century, plants were classified by their leaves rather than their flowers. A four-leaf clover, though considered lucky, is not a shamrock. However, we do know that shamrocks have three leaves. In other words, shamrocks and four-leaf clovers pictured are not the same. For four-leaf clovers, their luck has a history.

Druids believed that the four leaves represented the four elements of alchemy: earth, fire, water, and air. They used them as charms against bad spirits. Get plant information, gardening solutions, design inspiration and more in our weekly newsletter. It's more just a legend and tradition! Hi, Katelyn! Thanks for sharing your opinion, Johnny!

We understand not everyone likes the same thing! Luckily, there are more than 1, Wonders to explore on Wonderopolis! We know you will find one you like better! We appreciate you stopping by Wonderopolis and leaving a comment! We have the best Wonder Friends! Thanks for sharing your favorite part, haley! Four-leaf clovers can be anywhere, so always keep you eye out for them! Hi, chloey!

The legend is that they bring good luck! We hope you learned more about them from this Wonder! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you, too, Morgan! Thanks for sharing your opinion, jackson! We're sorry you didn't like it. Luckily, every Wonder has a video that goes with it.

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Wonder What's Next? Try It Out Feeling lucky? Grab a few friends or family members and explore the following activities together: In need of some luck? Maybe all you need to do is to find a four-leaf clover. Easier said than done, though, right? Maybe or maybe not! If you've tried and really can't seem to find that elusive four-leaf clover, then maybe you need some help from science.

Yes, science! Good luck! If you still can't find a four-leaf clover, what else could you turn to for good luck? Think about all the things that are associated with good luck. Legends and superstitions vary by culture, but there are many different things considered lucky. Try to make a list of at least five things thought to be lucky. Share your list with a friend or family member. Can they think of any others?

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Join the Discussion. Gabby Mar 16, I feel like this doesn't explain on how rare they are. This is mostly details but its a good story overall.

Anaya Perry Mar 9, Mar 5, Aug 17, Mar 20, Hi, Nat! Did you enjoy this Wonder? Simon Apr 12, I had know idea that the odds of finding a four-leave clover is 1 in 10,!

Apr 12, Jun 14, We're glad you're learning new things with us, lea! Apr 15, Charlie Oct 21, Oct 23, That's true, Charlie! Nothing in nature is perfect!

Shreya Apr 11, The fact I liked the most and to me was the interesting is that Tara Mar 31, I never thought that a clover could have 56 leafs! This was a great article! Apr 1, We're glad you learned a cool new fact, Tara! Sreenidhi Kalluru Mar 30, Apr 2, Thanks for sharing your favorite thing you learned, Sreenidhi! That's very interesting! ZEIN Mar 29, Hi, Zein!

Thanks for stopping by Wonderopolis! Giggity baggins May 4, May 9, It's a really well written article on the subject of four-leaf clovers. I once tried searching for one in my backyard, but no such luck. Mar 28, Mar 25,