Fourleaf Water Clover Plant Care
Marsilea quadrifolia L.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Marsilea quadrifolia is a herbaceous plant found naturally in central and southern Europe, Caucasia, western Siberia, Afghanistan, south-west India, China, Japan, and Vietnam, though it is considered a weed in some parts of the United States, where it has been well established in the northeast for over 100 years. Its common names include four leaf clover and European waterclover (USA), even though it is not a species of clover.
Partial shade to full sun
At a glance
How do you care for Fourleaf Water Clover?
Fourleaf Water Clover grows best in partial shade to full sun.
What Is the Fourleaf Water Clover?
Fourleaf Water Clover (Marsilea quadrifolia) belongs to the Marsileaceae family within the Marsilea genus. Fourleaf Water Clover is also known as Water Clover, Pepperwort.
Fourleaf Water Clover displays a low rosette, spreading growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . Fourleaf Water Clover produces small inconspicuous sporocarps.
What Light Does the Fourleaf Water Clover Need?
Fourleaf Water Clover thrives in partial shade to full sun.
Light Requirement
Partial shade to full sun
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Fourleaf Water Clover?
Rich, loamy soil with good moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Fourleaf Water Clover to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Do You Repot a Fourleaf Water Clover?
Repot every 1-2 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Fourleaf Water Clover?
Fourleaf Water Clover can be propagated through spores, division of rhizomes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to japanese water clover plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Fourleaf Water Clover Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Fourleaf Water Clover, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Fourleaf Water Clover?
Fourleaf Water Clover is susceptible to snails, slugs, aphids. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Fourleaf Water Clover is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Marsilea genus — compare its care with other Marsilea species on PlantoScan.
Marsilea is part of the Marsileaceae plant family — browse all Marsileaceae genera and species.
Fourleaf Water Clover thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Marsilea Species
Other Marsilea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Marsilea quadrifolia L., family Marsileaceae (first published in Sp. Pl. : 1099 (1753)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Fourleaf Water Clover, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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