Trifolium purp’ Quadrifolium

Description

Trifolium ‘Purpurascens Quadrifolium’ – ornamental clover

Botanical name: Trifolium repens ‘Purpurascens Quadrifolium’
Common names: Ornamental clover, four-leaf clover
Family: Fabaceae (pea family)
Plant type: Semi-evergreen perennial
Habit: Low, spreading, mat-forming
Pot size: 1 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 10cm tall × 30–45cm spread
Foliage: Green four-part leaves boldly marked chocolate-purple; semi-evergreen
Flowers: Small white clover flowers in summer
Scent: Not scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Most well-drained soils; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy, to about −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Sheltered or exposed; tolerant
Native range: Cultivated form; the species is native to Europe
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic in ordinary garden situations

Trifolium ‘Purpurascens Quadrifolium’ is an ornamental clover with green leaves boldly marked chocolate-purple, spreading to form quirky groundcover with little white flowers. Fun for edging, containers and gravel in sun or light shade.

GardenAdvice notes

A low, spreading ornamental form of white clover, grown for its distinctive four-part leaves each marked with a bold chocolate-purple centre and green edge. It creeps and roots as it goes to form an unusual, weed-suppressing carpet, dotted with small white clover flowers in summer, and adds a playful touch to edges, pots and gravel.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in most well-drained soils in full sun to partial shade; leaf markings are boldest in good light. It is ideal for edging, groundcover, containers and gravel. Space about 30cm apart; it fills in quickly and can spread, so site it where that is welcome.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Keep it within bounds by trimming or lifting sections in spring, as it spreads by rooting runners. Water while establishing. No feeding is needed — as a legume it fixes its own nitrogen. Shear over occasionally to keep it fresh and dense.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide, or detach rooted runners, in spring and replant.
• Runners: Rooted sections can be lifted and moved through the growing season.
• Seed: Can be raised from seed, though division keeps the leaf markings true.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free. Its main trait is vigour — it can spread beyond its space and run into lawns — so contain it where needed. Otherwise little troubled by pests or disease.

Uses in the garden

Fun as groundcover and edging, in containers and gravel, and tumbling over the edges of raised beds and pots, where the unusual marked leaves catch the eye.

Wildlife value

The white clover flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects, and as a legume it enriches the soil.

Toxicity & safety

Ornamental clover is generally regarded as non-toxic in ordinary garden situations, though as with many plants it is not intended for eating.

GardenAdvice tip

This ornamental clover is a real talking point with its chocolate-marked ‘lucky’ four-leaf foliage, and it’s tough and easy — but it does creep and root as it goes, so keep it out of a fine lawn or contain it in a pot if you’d rather it didn’t wander. The leaf markings are strongest in good light.

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