What Does a Five-Leaf Clover Mean?

Is a five-leaf clover good or bad luck? Your questions, answered

Co-authored by Jennifer Vasquez, BA, MA Reviewed by Michelle Arbeau

Last Updated: July 28, 2026 Fact Checked

5-Leaf Clovers & Luck

|

Meanings

|

In Pop Culture

|

Rarity

|

How do they form?

|

Video

A four-leaf clover is quite the lucky find, but have you ever stumbled across a five-leaf clover? These little green gems are incredibly rare, and are said to bring whoever finds them not only good luck, but wealth, too. We’ll tell you all about how lucky they are, their various meanings, your odds of finding one, pop culture references to five-leaf clovers, and more. Keep your eyes peeled!

5 Leaf Clover Meaning: Visual Guide

Download Image

According to superstition, a 5-leaf clover brings good luck to whoever finds one—even more luck than a 4-leaf clover.
Each leaf has its own meaning. The leaves of a three-leaf clover represent faith, hope, and love, respectively. The fourth leaf on a four-leaf clover represents luck.
The fifth leaf on a five-leaf clover represents financial and spiritual wealth. It may also signify transitions and new adventures.

Section 1 of 5:

Is a five-leaf clover lucky?

Many believe that a five-leaf clover is luckier than a four-leaf clover. Traditionally, four-leaf clovers are said to bring good luck to whoever finds them, probably because they’re so rare.^{[1]
X
Research source} Five-leaf clovers are even rarer, which means they bring even better luck. If you find one, take a risk! Ask out your crush, try something new, or just take a spin on a carnival claw machine—luck may be on your side.
- According to numerologist Michelle Arbeau, the number 5 symbolizes "freedom of expression" and is the number of the heart and emotions. It's often associated with finding your true calling, path, and purpose in life.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Michelle Arbeau
  Numerologist
  
  Expert Interview}
- Find out how to preserve your clover to keep your good luck around for longer.

Section 2 of 5:

Meanings of a 5 Leaf Clover

1
Five-leaf clovers are said to bring wealth and good fortune. Five-leaf clovers aren’t just good luck tokens. They’re also commonly thought to bring wealth to whoever finds them.^{[3]
X
Research source} Who knows, you might find some cash on the ground, get a raise, or even have a risky investment pay off.
- Spiritually, a five-leaf clover may also signify transitions, new adventures, or new travels.
2
Each leaf on a five-leaf clover has its own special meaning. It’s sometimes said that the leaves of a three-leaf clover represent faith, hope, and love, respectively. The fourth leaf on a four-leaf clover is often said to represent luck. A five-leaf clover has all those, plus an extra leaf that some say represents wealth. Whether that’s financial prosperity, spiritual wealth, or another kind is up to you to find out.
- Druids in ancient Ireland were said to believe that carrying a three-leaf clover, or a shamrock, would allow you to see and evade evil spirits.
- Druids also believed that four-leaf clovers were thought of as charms that warded off bad spirits and enabled you to see fairies.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
- A sixth leaf is said to represent fame or notoriety.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}

Section 3 of 5:

5-Leaf Clovers in Pop Culture

1
The five-leaf clover has a darker meaning in the anime Black Clover. In Black Clover, the 5-leaf clover represents the devil or a demonic force. It’s also connected to the “grimoire of despair,” which can be used by devils to manifest their powers. This grimoire is formed when the owner of a four-leaf clover experiences deep sadness and hatred.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- In Black Clover, a four-leaf clover symbolizes integrity, hope, love, and good luck, making the 5-leaf variation a stark contrast.
2
“5 Leaf Clover” is also the name of a song by Luke Combs. In 2023, country singer Luke Combs released a track called “5 Leaf Clover.” In it, he sings about recognizing his blessings and good fortune. The lyric “I know I'm a lucky man” is repeated, which further aligns it with the symbolism of five-leaf clovers and their connection to good luck.^{[7]
X
Research source}

Section 4 of 5:

How rare is a five-leaf clover?

Five-leaf clovers are incredibly rare. It’s estimated that you only have about a 1 in 10,000 chance of finding a four-leaf clover.^{[8]
X
Research source} That’s already a pretty rare find, so imagine how much rarer a five-leaf clover must be. Some estimate that your chances of finding a five-leaf clover is about 1 in 100,000! No wonder they’re said to bring extra good luck.
- It’s not actually as hard as you might think to find a four-leaf clover or even a five-leaf clover. Since they’re so small, your eyes can scan a huge number at a time. It just takes a little practice, patience, and a sharp eye!
- Also, a single four- or five-leaf clover is actually part of a much bigger root system growing underground, which means if you find 1, you’re more likely to find more with the same mutation nearby.^{[9]
  X
  Research source}

Section 5 of 5:

How does a five-leaf clover form?

Five-leaf clovers are the result of a genetic mutation in clover plants. When you think of shamrocks or four- or five-leaf clovers, you’re probably thinking of the white clover plant. Occasionally, as the white clover reproduces, mutations occur in its genes that tell the clover to put out more than its usual 3 leaves. These mutations can be the result of environmental factors, like the amount of minerals in the soil, or even just the result of random chance.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- In 2019, a Japanese high schooler performed an experiment to see if she could grow her own four-leaf clovers. She customized the chemicals in her growing soil and found that she actually produced more five- and six-leaf clovers than she did four-leaf clovers.^{[11]
  X
  Research source}
- The world record for the number of leaves found on a clover is a whopping 56, on a clover found in Japan by a man named Shigeo Obara.^{[12]
  X
  Research source}