Holidays & Entertaining St. Patrick's Day St. Patrick's Day Traditions 7 Four-Leaf Clover Facts to Know for St. Patrick's Day Why is the four-leaf clover a universal symbol of good luck? Learn more about this green plant associated with St. Patrick's Day. By Emily VanSchmus Emily VanSchmus Instagram Emily VanSchmus is the assistant digital home editor at Better Homes & Gardens, where she covers home decor, entertaining ideas, and more. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on March 7, 2023 Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Today, looking for four-leaf clovers is a St. Patrick's Day tradition, but have you ever wondered why they're considered lucky—or how they came to be associated with the holiday? It turns out, the story behind the clover dates back hundreds of years before we began drinking green beer and pinching friends who didn't wear green on the holiday. The four-leaf clover (officially known as Oxalis deppei) is a small plant with four distinct leaves. It's a rare variation of the common three-leaf clover, and because your chances of finding one with four leaves is about 1 in 10,000, they're considered lucky. Four-leaf clovers have been around for ages, and their supposed lucky powers are talked about in centuries-old legends. In the early days of Ireland, Celtic priests known as Druids carried three-leaf clovers, or shamrocks, in the belief that with their help, they could see evil spirits approaching and be able to escape. Four-leaf clovers, then, were Celtic charms, offering magical protection and warding off bad luck. Children in the Middle Ages believed they might be able to see fairies if they carried a four-leaf clover. Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick's Day? Here's the History Margot Cavin The Difference Between Four-Leaf Clovers and Shamrocks Both shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are associated with St. Patrick's Day, and they're commonly confused as the same thing. A shamrock is a clover with three leaves, but the four-leaf clover is considered lucky due to its rarity. Shamrocks are still an important part of the holiday, and there's a deep religious significance that explains why we celebrate St. Patrick's Day with shamrocks. Now that you know the difference, catch up on these fun facts about four-leaf clovers before you start making a St. Patrick's Day dessert. Who Was St. Patrick, and Why Is There a Holiday Celebrating Him? Robin Smith / Getty Images Fast Facts About Four-Leaf Clovers There are approximately 10,000 three-leaf clovers for every "lucky" four-leaf clover.There are no clover plants that naturally produce four leaves, which is why four-leaf clovers are so rare.The leaves of four-leaf clovers are said to stand for faith, hope, love, and luck.It's often said that Ireland is home to more four-leaf clovers than any other place, giving meaning to the phrase "the luck of the Irish."If you're lucky enough to find a four-leaf clover, look for more! If a clover plant produces a four-leaf clover, it's more likely to produce another one than plants that only produce shamrocks.The fourth leaf can be smaller, or a different shade of green, than the other three.If you're the superstitious type, give your four-leaf clover to someone else. It's said that this will double your good luck. 5 St. Patrick's Day Charcuterie Boards Better Than a Pot of Gold Frequently Asked Questions Are four-leaf clovers and shamrocks the same thing? Shamrocks and four-leaf clovers are not the same thing. Shamrocks are the traditional clover plant that has three leaves. A four-leaf clover is much rarer. Why are four-leaf clovers considered lucky? Finding a four-leaf clover is considered good luck because they are so rare. Only one in 10,000 clovers have four leaves, rather than three. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit