Does it need full sun?

It prefers full sun to partial shade.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, it grows well in submerged pots within a pond.

Plant guide

Water clover.

Marsilea quadrifolia

Pronounced mar-SIL-ee-uh kwah-dri-FOH-lee-uh

Also known as Common Water Clover, European Waterclover, European marsilea, European pepperwort, European water-clover, European water-fern, Four-leaf clover

Marsilea quadrifolia — Photo by Ljaž (CC BY) via gbif

This charming aquatic fern looks just like a four leaf clover floating on the water. It is a hardy plant that spreads quickly in ponds or water gardens. You will love how it creates a lush green carpet across the surface.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Aquatic fern
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every day
Mature size: 6 to 12 inches tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 6 to 9

Care

Keep the plant in shallow water or moist soil to ensure it stays hydrated. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal that the plant needs more light or nutrients. Trim back aggressive growth to prevent it from taking over your entire pond.

Watering: Always keep the soil or roots submerged in water.
Feeding: Use an aquatic plant fertilizer tablet pushed into the soil once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back overgrown stems to maintain the desired spread.
Repotting: Move to a larger container if the rhizomes become too crowded.
Soil: Aquatic soil or heavy loam
Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0
Temperature: 0 to 30°C
Humidity: 60 to 100%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the pot drainage holes
Stunted growth
Yellowing leaves

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non toxic, but ingestion should be avoided due to potential enzyme content.
Children: Keep away from small children as the foliage is easily detached and could pose a choking hazard.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may contain thiaminase, which breaks down vitamin B1.

How to identify it

Four leaflets resemble clover leaves
Leaves float on water surface
Creeping rhizomes spread along substrate
Bright green foliage color

Height: 0.05 to 0.2m
Spread: 0.3 to 1m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: 0cm

Problems to watch for

Algae OvergrowthCommon
ChlorosisUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Water Lily AphidUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, rhizome cuttings
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: In cold climates, move the container to a deeper part of the pond where the water does not freeze solid. If the pond freezes, bring the plant indoors to a cool, bright area.
In containers: It is excellent for containers, just ensure the pot is kept submerged in water.

Division

1. Gently lift the plant from the water.
2. Cut a section of the rhizome that has roots attached.
3. Replant the division into a new pot with aquatic soil.

Plant in a container to prevent the rhizomes from taking over your entire pond.

Grows well with

Pickerelweed · It provides a nice vertical contrast to the low growing fern.
Water Lily · They share similar aquatic requirements and create a layered pond look.

Similar species

Water Shamrock · It is a related species with a similar growth habit.

Science

Family: Marsileaceae
Genus: Marsilea
Order: Salviniales
Class: Polypodiopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of Asia.
Conservation: It is considered invasive in some regions of the United States, so check local regulations before planting.

It grows in shallow, slow moving water where it can anchor its rhizomes in the soft substrate.

Value to wildlife: provides cover for aquatic life, oxygenates water
Uses: aquatic groundcover, pond accent, aquarium plant

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 9/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?: It prefers full sun to partial shade.
Can I grow it in a pot?: Yes, it grows well in submerged pots within a pond.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors the Italian naturalist Luigi Ferdinando Marsigli, while quadrifolia refers to its four leaflets.

Good to know

It is often called water clover.
The leaves fold up at night.
It thrives in shallow water or muddy banks.
It spreads rapidly via creeping rhizomes.

Keep your water clover growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.