History of Four-leaf clover in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 26, 2024

The four-leaf clover, an uncommon variant of the three-leaf clover, is traditionally associated with good luck. While the origin of this belief remains unclear, an early reference from 1640 mentions "Fower-leafed or purple grasse" being cultivated in gardens for its supposed medicinal benefits, particularly for treating "purples" in children.

May 2009: World Record for Most Leaves on a Clover Stem

The highest number of leaves ever recorded on a single clover stem is 56. This remarkable discovery was made by Shigeo Obara in Hanamaki, Iwate, Japan, on May 10, 2009.

August 2010: Discovery of the Four-Leaf Clover Gene

In August 2010, researchers at the University of Georgia announced the identification of the gene responsible for transforming ordinary three-leaf clovers into the sought-after four-leaf variety. This discovery, published in the Crop Science journal, opened up possibilities for breeders to selectively cultivate four-leaf clovers.

2017: Clover Survey Reveals Frequency of Four-Leaf Clovers

In 2017, a survey conducted in central Europe examined approximately 5.7 million clovers. The findings revealed that the occurrence of four-leaf clovers was about one in every 5,000 three-leaf clovers. This frequency is twice as high as the commonly cited probability of one in 10,000.

June 2018: World Record for Most Four-Leaf Clovers Collected in One Hour

On June 23, 2018, Katie Borka from the United States achieved a remarkable feat by collecting 166 four-leaf clovers in a single hour, setting a new world record.