4-leaf Clovers: A Finder's Guide

I find four-leaf clovers frequently, even when not explicitly looking. Many find this "gift" extraordinary, and even though this mutation is reported to only occur once in about 10,000 clovers, getting lucky isn't as hard as one would think.

Step 1: Background: The Clover

4-leaf clovers are a mutation of the usually 3-leafed White Clover plant, Trifolium repens. One clover is actually one leaf of a larger plant, with 3 leaflets. Mutations can occur due to a low frequency recessive gene or environmental causes. Often the reason for mutation is differentiable from one clover to another. The mutation does not stop at the 4-leafed variety: 5-leafed clovers are not uncommon. However, the more leaflets, the harder they are to find (and the luckier they are): the record is an 18-leaf clover, and the highest I've ever seen is 10-leafed.

Comments

[Horse lover759]

I found my first four leaf clovers today. I found 4 of them. I want to keep them and laminate them but don't want them to get ruined. Does anyone know the best way to laminate it without it being ruined?

[ineedhelp136]

idk but i guess just get like you know um the plastic baggies and put it in there

[ineedhelp136]

i am 10 and i think i found a four leafed clover but im not sure i think its a weed but idk

[jkershaw]

hi all how exciting to find so many people talking about these special clovers in 1 place! as a kid i spent hours/days/weeks etc looking for 4leafed clovers...anyway i carried on believing they didnt exist. i now know better! ive found over 80x4leafed about 6x5leafed & 1x6leafed. the most perfect 4xleafed i found i immediately laminated . . DO NOT DO THIS! it went in green & came out brown haha! they definately "call" to me when theres 1 to be found i get a feeling & go out the back & generally straight to it! yesterday 2 of my friends thought i was mad when i started looking saying "theres a 4xleafed clover to be found i can feel it". i didnt find it as i had to go out but today had the feeling again & found 2x5leafed clovers! ps-i immediately text messaged my 2 concerned friends!!!

[camio11]

I live in New Zealand and I spent an hour looking for 4 leaf clovers and I did not find 1, are they harder to find in NZ. (P.S I AM 11)

[Luckygirl23]

Today I found 10 four leaf clovers and 2 six leaf clovers.. I must be a lucky girl. I stuck them in a heavy book to dry. Is that what most people do?

[amy m short]

[amy m short]

[amy m short]

[amy m short]

i have 4 - four leaf clovers growing together

[laurfrances]

Is a 4 leaf clover the same as a 4 leaf shamrock (oxalis?) Is this also lucky?

[sharon mcrath]

my dad and i were outside and i said there is only 1 4 leaf clover in every patch we looked for no more then 30 sec and he found one and i said its good luck and not to let me touch and put it somewhere safe so he put it in his wallet

[nmedel]

I just found a four-leaf clover today!!! How do preserve it?

[awaard]

I do:

1. Flatten them with your thumb.

2. Put it on a piece of paper and fold it in half.

3. Put it in a heavy book and wait about a day.

[18arnot]

thts all...really isnt there more you need to do...jw

[aquilablanka]

Hi, Im also a finder, i have a reasonable amount now, the latest being a 6 leaf, I just have keep them in a book and seems to be ok. I am planning to get it laminated, i think this would be the way, but mind that i am new to this.

[MichaelRader]

Actually the record is now a 21 leaf clover found by the same person... 

http://pinktentacle.com/2008/06/21-leaf-clover/

[WUVIE]

Wonderful Instructable, thank you so much for sharing this! Great job!

[shiftyswifty]

i found a four leaf clover in this old 1934 Edgar A. Guest poetry book. What does this mean??

[MimMim18]

the Irish believe that while finding a four-leaf clover will bring you good luck, finding a clover stem with 5 or more leaves is actually unlucky!
So to everyone whos bragging bout finding 5 leafs or more you have BAD LUCK lol.

[Lucky Irene]

That is not true. Leaf number 5 stands for MONEY as the other leaves means: Love, Hope, Faith and Luck. However, any additional leaf on clovers are really mutants among the clovers. Finding 4 leaf clovers makes people happy that it is something special. Sites like this brings people together. Have fun. From Lucky Irene

[rrivera13]

Irish Luck is ours! We did it! - lol
http://www.panoramio.com/user/1379963

[jpage9]

i found 1 four leaf clover the other day at school, i was really excited! but it was small and ugly :( i didnt think to look around it for another, hmm maybe i will go back to that spot :)

[MimMim18]

ive found 2 four leaf clovers in 2 day! and havent even looked for them.. and there were both right outside my front door! x

[Lexiz]

Im 12 years old and iv been looking for a four leaf clover for special reasons
1. I want to have a four leaf clover plant.
2. there is a special portal to see faries with the four leaf clovers
3. I really just want it to find faries! Im in love with faries and i really found ways of talking to them but i NEED a four leaf clover
how do i find one? i liv close to the beach so i dont know were to find one please help me out

[Lucky Irene]

Hello Lexiz,
I want for you to keep on believing in faries..Our hopes and wishes are made up on dreams. Unfortuntitly we live in a world of Good and Bad, Angels and Devils and we even have to put up with Ugly Trolls in their rude remarks...
I can honestly tell the world, I have always been very lucky to find 4, 5 and even 6 leaf clovers my entire life and I've never stopped to look for a single one.
They always seem to find me. I've given away many of them to people who believe in the clover's GOOD LUCK for what ever reason on why.. they wanted one. You may contact me at: [e-mail]
and I will personally mail you a real 4 leaf clover.
So Lexiz, PLEASE keep your Dreams Alive and BELIEVE in anything that makes you feel happy. I hope to hear from you. Sincerely from, Lucky Irene

[Lexiz]

:) okay i just have to ask my mom if its okay with her and thx for your kind advise (:

[Lucky Irene]

Here I am on the front page of our local newspaper. I've given many away and I still have yours Lexiz when you want one or anyone else that wants one too. Best Wishes to all that need a little hope. From Lucky Irene

[MisterTroll]

Faries do not exist. A plant doesn't open a portal. And clovers with four leaves do not make more; picking one will kill it, like tearing it's arms and legs off.

[Lexiz]

Say what ever you want to say i can think what ever i want to!

[Lucky Irene]

Hello once again Lexiz; Just as I said, we the believers have the Luck and Hope of better things in life. Keep the Love and Faith alive. Recently, after discovering 100's in a large patch of 4 and even 5 leaf clovers...It was placed
in the front page newspaper in our area. You can surf the web to find the
article of me to type up: News-Milton,Pa.-The Standard-Journal-4-leaf frenzy
And as for anyone else who needs a little LUCK... please e-mail me at: [e-mail] As long as I have 4 leaf clovers,
I'll be glad to share them. I've even Donated many to a Children's Cancer Hospital. They'll be in wax paper you can open to show you they are real.
Lexiz I'v put one aside for you when your mom gives the ok. From Lucky Irene.

[msaladino]

I love this everyone today I went to my patch I just recently discovered I picked 31 last week and left 5 today there was 21 and I found a 6 leaf and a 5 leaf clover I am choosing to leave them there for now...I find them all the time and consider it to be a sign from a mystical place...For all the young ones on here keep on shining brightly I can see you all as glowing stars make a wish.....This is the next generation of fairy, pixie, angel, and energy healers of the world
Lots of love to all
Namaste!!
Ps I took a video and ill share when I get it uploaded
PSS
thank you for this blog truly feel blessed

[rmanwiller]

I've looked all my life at times for the 67 years I've been on this planet. I've never found one! But then I don't look for hours on end or are that intent or desperate, nor have the time to spend to find one.

That said, it is obvious that the amount of time spent is critical for success since there is only one found for every 10,000 examined. Although I've yet to see a near-perfectly symmetrical 4-leaf clover like many 3-leaf ones are. I'm told that a 4-leaf synmetrical clover is in the millions to one!! Obviously, the one pictured above on this thread is an example of a non-symmetrical one.

If I ever found a 5-leaf or above, I' d probably hold my own parade! Maybe on the next Saint Patrick's Day!!!

[awaard]

Hey, I am 9 years old, and I found a total of about 52 4 and 5 leaf clovers I found in half an hour, and I'll be happy to send you one. Just tell me what I need to send a letter to you, and you'll have a 5leaf in no time!


Sebastiaan West

[precious11]

I found a four leaf clover on the grass outside my house, and there were four more next to it. Dd they all grow off the same one?

[awaard]

Yeah they do (I found like 40 4's and 12 5's in one tiny patch)!


Sebastiaan West (AWAARD's son)

[awaard]

Hi I am a 9 year old collector and I had to use my mother's facebook account. I have a collection from I guess more than 40 4-leaf clovers and something like 12 5-leaf clovers.

Sebastiaan West (Jericho, VT)

PS I have an about 5X4 sq ft patch where I found my collection.

PPS I ate a 4leaf wishing for more, and, here you go!

[aquilablanka]

Does anyone believe on Luck finding you instead of you looking for luck, im asking because the first four leaf clover i found was kind of it found me. I just happen to look down and there it was, on a rather busy walk path.

[fourleafclover]

why is the stalk so thick on the 10 leaf clover?

[4sevens]

not an expert, but my opinion is so it can feed all of the extra leaves.