Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Look at the undersides of the leaves for signs of pests.
- Check if the leaves are staying wet after you water.
- Examine the spots to see if they are dry and brittle or soft and spreading.
Likely causes
Fungal Leaf Spot
Most likelyHow to tell: Small brown or black circles appear on the leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo. These spots spread when the foliage stays wet for extended periods.
What to do: Remove and discard any affected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve air circulation by spacing plants further apart or using a small fan. Avoid overhead watering to keep the leaves dry.
Sunburn
PossibleHow to tell: Bleached or scorched white patches appear on the leaves after a sudden move to intense direct sun. These spots are usually dry and brittle.
What to do: Move the plant to a location with filtered light for a week to help it recover. Gradually introduce it back to brighter light over 10 to 14 days.
Find out what's wrong with your clover
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
A single spot is usually not a crisis, but widespread spotting that covers many leaves requires immediate action. Normal aging leaves may develop small brown edges.
Stopping it coming back
Water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves, and ensure the plant has good airflow.
Clover: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your clover and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Should I use a fungicide on my clover?
- Usually, improving air circulation and keeping the leaves dry is enough. Fungicides are rarely needed for indoor or container clover.
- Are these spots contagious to my other plants?
- If the spots are fungal, they can spread through water droplets. Isolate the affected plant until the spots stop appearing.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Clover
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.