Grow Australian water clover in sun and in water that never dries. Australian water clover is Marsilea mutica. A shop packet labeled only four-leaf clover is usually lawn clover, a different plant.
Give it sun and water that never dries
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun to part sun | Do not grow it in a dark corner with no direct light |
| Water | Wet soil or shallow water that never dries | Do not grow it in a dry bed |
| Site | Still or slow water on a pond shelf, or a tub that stays wet | Do not set it in a fast current or under a hard fountain splash |
| Feed | Pond water is enough | Do not pour extra fertilizer on a pond that is already green |
Australian water clover wants a day of sun, or at least a few hours of direct light, and mud or shallow water that stays wet. The rhizomes sit in that mud, and the four leaflets float or stand a few inches above. If the mud dries, the clump dies, so keep the shelf wet from the first day. [1]
Give it still or slow water. Wind, a fountain, and a strong filter spray pile the mat and dry the leaflets on the rim. It can share a pond with a water lily if you leave open water so both still get light. See How to Grow Water Lily for the lily itself.
Does Australian water clover need full sun?
Full sun to part sun is the usual site. A dark corner with no direct light will not hold a healthy mat.
Can it grow in dry garden soil?
No. The rhizomes need wet mud or shallow water that never dries. A dry bed is the main reason the clump dies.
Keep a thin mat, and never dump extras in a lake
Once the four-leaflet pads cover about half the water, rake extras off the surface and lift any runners that have left the pot. Bag them for the trash, or compost them well away from the pond, so pieces cannot wash back in. Never dump extras into a lake, a ditch, or a storm drain. In warm still water the rhizomes run, so skim on a regular day, not after the surface has already closed. [2] [3]
- When the mat covers about half the pond, rake extras off the surface.
- Lift runners that have left the pot, so the clump stays where you can reach it.
- Bag extras for the trash, or compost them far from the water, so pieces cannot wash back in.
- Never dump extras into a lake, a ditch, or a storm drain.
Will it take over the pond?
It can. The rhizomes run in warm still water. Rake extras before the mat closes the surface.
Can I toss extras in a nearby lake?
No. Bag extras or compost them away from water. A fragment can start a new mat in a public pond.
Not a four-leaf clover — and not oxalis or European water clover
Australian water clover is Marsilea mutica, an aquatic fern. Each frond has four equal leaflets, often with a brown band about halfway along, and the plant roots in mud. A lucky four-leaf clover is a rare find on white clover, which grows in a lawn and usually has three leaflets. See How to Grow Clover if the plant is a dry-ground clover with flowers. [4]
The grocery shamrock sold for St. Patrick's Day is usually oxalis, with heart-shaped leaflets and a dry pot. See How to Grow Oxalis for that plant. European water clover is Marsilea quadrifolia, a different species sold for ponds. It has the same four-leaflet look but usually lacks the brown band, and it is not the plant in this catalog.
Is this a lucky four-leaf clover?
No. A lucky four-leaf clover is a rare lawn clover. This plant is an aquatic fern with four leaflets on every frond.
Is this oxalis?
No. Oxalis is a dry-pot shamrock with heart-shaped leaflets. Australian water clover roots in wet mud and floats its leaflets on the water.
If a hard frost will ice a shallow tub solid, lift a piece into a bright indoor bowl of water before the mud freezes dry.
FAQ
Can I grow Australian water clover in a patio tub or aquarium?
Yes, if the container holds water that never dries and gets sun or a tank light. Keep the filter spray off the surface, and rake extras the same way you would in a pond. Dwarf aquarium water clovers are different species.
Will it come back after frost?
In a garden pond the rhizomes often stay alive if the pot remains wet below the ice. A hard freeze that ices a shallow tub solid can wipe the clump, so lift a piece into a bright indoor bowl of water if you want a start next spring.
Is there more than one kind of water clover?
This catalog holds Australian water clover, Marsilea mutica. European water clover is a different species. Dwarf aquarium water clovers are different species too. Give the banded four-leaflet plant sun and water that never dries, and rake extras the same way.
Can I eat nardoo from this plant?
Do not eat it as a garden crop. The hard spore cases have been used as food after careful roasting, and raw flour can make people very sick. That is not a kitchen job for a pond plant.
Does Australian water clover flower?
No. It is a fern. The show is the four leaflets, not a bloom.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/marsilea-mutica-variegata/ - [2] Lily Blooms -
https://www.lilyblooms.com/variegated-four-leaf-water-clover-marsilea-mutica-lily-like-aquatic/ - [3] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -
https://www.fws.gov/media/ecological-risk-screening-summary-australian-water-clover-marsilea-mutica-uncertain-risk - [4] Penn State Extension -
https://extension.psu.edu/the-botany-behind-the-shamrock
This note is part of Marsilea Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors