A friend asked me ‘what’s the difference between red clover and white clover?’

I love this kind of simple question. In truth they deserve a simple answer, how about:

‘Red clover is used medicinally, white clover isn’t’.

It answers the question, but it provokes a bigger question still: Why? That’s when the deep dive begins. Curiosity piqued, we’re open to investigating and understanding more about our plant allies.

Start with a simple question

If you’ve got a simple question like that, something that’s made you wonder. Do get in touch – you can email [email protected] – and we may be able to provide a simple, or a more in depth answer.

Better still, if you’re a member of the Herb Society and have a story to tell about the simple things you’ve questioned, discovered or investigated, do share. We’re happy to receive blogs written by members and will share them on the website, attributed to you, if you wish with links to where others can find out more about you and your work or writing. Again, simply get in touch via the email [email protected]

Let curiosity lead you

The truly attractive heads of clover, with their clusters of tubular flowers that make up the egg-shaped globes (sometimes up to 3cm long) are such an eye catching feature of meadows and hedgerows, they should provoke curiosity. Although also being so commonplace, we often wander by without wondering. The happiness of ‘living in clover’ is better appreciated by taking a pause to look with poet’s eyes at them. We can be thankful for John Clare’s ‘To a Red Clover’

Sweet bottle-shaped flower of lushy red

Born when the summer wakes her warmest breeze,

Among the meadows waving grasses spread,

Or ‘neath the shade of hedge or clumping trees,

Bowing in slender stem thy heavy head.

Thinking about the differences between red and white clover, I’ve quite often come across them both in the same patch. Like twins, the two are often thought of and seen together, though they’ve been recognised as different since pre-Conquest times. Local to me there are some long-established meadows where the two can both be found; similarly, in the grassland that surrounds our local golf course, both are evident along with vetches, St John’s Wort, scabious, and the occasional orchid.

In my lawn, and my friend’s – prompting her question – as well as many others’, white clover predominates. It looks quite different there, kept short and stubby by the repetitive presence of the mower.

I would suggest that white clover (Trifolium repens) is the predominant form in British heritage and lore, although one of its folk names is ‘Dutch Clover’, suggesting it’s even more important elsewhere. It’s the variety that has been given the name ‘Honeystalk’, because its stalks, while tough, are as sweet as its leaves. The name ‘Honeysuckles’ is also used – confusingly as honeysuckle (Lonicera) is an entirely different plant, but aptly as clover buds were a favourite treat for children to suck the sweet nectar from (although apparently there is more nectar in red clover than in white). Culpeper uses this name for clover, and he is referring to both the white and red clover (Trifolioum pratense) which he classes together under ‘Meadow Trefoil’.

Long loved

Often the number and variety of common names for a plant are an indication of the extent to which we’ve been living alongside it. Clover has a good few nick names. These include, broad clover, broad grass, claver (a more common name than clover before 1600), clover rose, cocksheads, cow cloos, cow grass, king’s crown, knap, lady’s posies, marl grass, pinkies, plyvens, red cushions, sleeping Maggie, shamrock soukies, soukie soo, suckbottles, suckers, sucklings, sugar bosses and sugar plums.

There are some names which refer specifically to white clover including baa-lambs, bee bread, bobby roses, curl-doddy, lamb-sucklings, mull, pussy foot, quillet and sheep’s gowan.

White clover has influenced our names too. The Welsh name Olwen means ‘white footprints’ as the Olwen of the 10^th Century Mabinogion is described as having white clover spring up wherever she walks.

Historically the name ‘clover’ was a broad term for any meadow grasses that happened to have flowers. Many of the common names however draw attention to the nectar bearing qualities of the flowers – whether its bees or children who enjoy sucking them.

Many virtues

Clover’s virtues, as described by Culpeper, writing his Complete Herbal in 1653, are in some ways different to those we’d promote today. First he quotes Dodoneus suggesting use for gut pain, then he suggests a poultice to treat inflammation or juice for the eyes and to protect against adder bites, while an actual bite should be treated with the whole herb or an ointment. Indeed, clover was once considered an antidote to all poisons, perhaps one of the reasons it is regarded as lucky. Only after use for wounds and scars does Culpeper mention use for women who are ‘troubled with the whites’ or help with ‘hard swellings and impostumes’. Benefits closer to those we recognise clover most for today.

Today clover’s main virtues would be regarded as for the skin and blood, for the hormones and as a relaxant. As a gentle herb it can be used over long periods, so is particularly good for treating chronic complaints, including eczema and psoriasis or skin rashes, as well as ulcers, burns and sores. It is recommended as a tea to address tension headaches, anxiety and even spasms. It can calm the mind to promote sleep, and it can help relieve hot flushes. This last is in part due to the presence of phytoestrogens that help balance hormones. Clover may also be beneficial in treating other menopausal symptoms including breast pain and irritability as well as providing minerals to help with bone density loss.

While some old herbals suggest a poultice or cream to be made for softening milk ducts and treating nipple eczema and mastitis, today it is considered a herb to be avoided while pregnant or breast feeding. Similarly, though it used to be seen as a remedy for whooping cough, now it is not held to have so much healing power, but can still be helpful for coughs or gargled for a sore throat.

It is one of the herbs turned to when confronted with growths or cysts, warts or polyps and at times of serious illness, its emotionally strengthening nature can boost the life force in a soothing and sustaining way.

Well travelled

I see quite a contrast in our modern use of clover, compared to the times of Culpeper. One of reasons for this may be due to absorbing learning from a different tradition. Clovers will have been among the flowers transferred to the Americas during the 16^th and 17^th centuries. The white clover taken to Mexico by Spaniards was so widespread across the pampas by 1555 that the Aztecs gave it a name, Castilian ocoxchitl. Native American Indians found medicinal uses for red clover, which were then transferred back to Britain in the 19^th century. Hence our new appreciation of the herb in medicine and skincare.

Three is the magic number 

One of the most distinguishing features of clover are their (normally) three-leaves that inspire their latin name ‘Trifolium’. It’s this that has given them association in pagan traditions with the triple goddess: maiden, mother and crone, and in Christianity with the Holy Trinity, hence their believed ability to ward off evil.

Even when not in flower, much time can be spent among clover, seeking out the rare four leaved treasures. The white horse-shoe shapes on the leaves may be the origin of its association with luck. You may notice the difference in hairiness on the underside of the leaves, if its hairy, it will be a red clover, white clovers don’t have these hairs.

I grew up thinking the four-leaf clover was something of a myth, until I was actually in the presence of one being found. Aged 16, I was on the way to take part in my first ever archaeological dig and we’d stopped along the way in a field gateway for a picnic. It was my Dad who found the clover, an avid searcher, he’d spend many hours furtling away on the lawn at home digging out clover, his way of relaxing. So it was a wonderful moment, and he gifted the four leafed clover to me, to wish me luck at the start of my archaeological career. I still have it taped to the inside of my Filofax!

Meadow enchantment

So while there may be some confusion and contradiction in what we’ve learnt and understood about clover in the many centuries we’ve been living alongside her. There is no doubt she is one of the joys of a summer meadow and should rightly inspire our awe and curiosity.

Enjoy spotting red and white clover on your summer walks, they’re around for quite a long stretch from May through to July. Take the opportunity if you can to rest awhile among their calm presence. Perhaps try sucking a little nectar or gather a few to take for tea-making.

If Shakespeare is to be believed, you won’t be able to resist:

I will enchant the old Adronicus

With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous,

Than baits to fish, or honeystalks to sheep.

 From Titus Andronicus Act IV, scene iv