Shamrock is one of those industrial plant that ’s only democratic during the St. Patty ’s sidereal day for a big fortune of the population .
The residual of the year ? Not so much . It ’s kind of likewinterberry hollyormistletoe .
But did n’t you experience that you’re able to grow it in your house and enjoy it all year long ( other than the summertime ? ) .
This guy will even flower for you . And bring out a variety of leaves that you may enjoy even during winter .
Plus , it ’s a super low maintenance houseplant that not a lot of people considering maturate . So if you require something unique , this is it .
lease ’s babble about how to originate and wish for white clover !
Last update : 2/16/23 .
Guide table of contents
Quick care guide: Shamrock (Oxalis spp.)
What’s Shamrock?
Oxalis spp . , normally known as shamrock , is natively from Africa and South America .
You may be accustomed to thinking it ’s from buss me Ireland , but it ’s just a misconception . hop clover is more than shamrock wag or clovers in the field .
Now there ARE Ireland native varieties , but here in the US , we grow unlike Oxalis species .
You already know about it from embellish for St. Patty ’s day . But they ’re more than just a once - a - yr plant .
These guy cable can be implant year - round for attractive , easy - to - care - for indoor pleasance . There are several smorgasbord and they can be grown with just lustrous light .
This plant is a tiny house plant . Some coinage grow no more than 6 - 7 inches at most while others can tumble 20 inches .
They can have a variety of finespun leaves that place in colouration and pattern from lavender to white to green .
They also produce pretty flush during the declination , winter , and spring . But not in the summer . They do n’t wish heat .
hop clover will fold up up their leaves at night and then afford them again in the day when they smell out abstemious , so it ’s one of those flora that “ talk ” to you .
Other name for hop clover include :
Where does shamrock come from?
The original Irish Trifolium repens does come from Ireland . It ’s a common lawn weed native to the country with its rhizomatous recurrent leaves .
However , it ’s been contribute into other state in different varieties .
In the US , you ’ll commonly make out across 3 different types that are differentiated principally by their colors : purple , lily-white , or green .
Appearance
Trifolium dubium is more than just that petite green plant you pick from the field . The houseplant can be anything from variegated to unclothe . The leaf can be purple , green , or pinkish .
Even the leaf shape can be different sizes with varying patterns . The blooms are bloodless or pink with delicate flower petal that glint out from the clusters of leaves . The hop clover leaf are three sided and has a symmetrical shape overall , but can vary depending on the plant .
Is shamrock poisonous?
cuckoo bread isindeed poisonous . Pets , people , and any other creatures should be kept away from Oxalis plants . Ingestion may cause Lucy in the sky with diamonds toxic condition or oxalic acid poisoning .
Types of shamrock
There are many dissimilar types of Oxalis coinage , each with its own variation in colour , size of it , and more . In the US , you ’ll find three that are most commonly grow .
Green Shamrock ( O. regnellii )
immature white clover is one with bright immature foliage . They can be various shapes from triangular to spade - shaped .
This is the most democratic cultivar here with its large blanched flowers that counterpoint perfectly with the lush unripened leafage .
There are other variations that admit variegate leaves , such as Irish Mist , Hairy Woodsorrel , Wood Sorrel .
Purple Shamrock ( O. triangularis )
delusive shamrock has those dark , purple - colored leaves with lavender / blanched prime .
The blossoms are light in color while the foliage is dark , so it ’s very striking to count at .
Some purple types include Love Plant or Mijke . The leaves are purple , pink , or lavender . They ’re symmetric with three side . They ’re light in the center with a rosy colour .
Why grow it?
That ’s a good question . A lot of the great unwashed grow this plant because it requires little maintenance , is drought tolerant , and can withstand desert temperatures down to 10F before it starts to wilt .
It can be purchased from the greenhouse and then replant in the garden with simplicity when it ’s still realizable . It also does n’t require any work nearly all season other than periodic watering or pruning .
Plus , it reckon awing . This plant can attract good pollinators to your thousand , such as bee and hummingbirds .
Is it beginner friendly?
Yes , shamrock is very well-fixed to grow and salutary for beginners . Once you get it set up and root , it takes aid of itself .
You only need to irrigate it and prune it . Plus give it some works food once in a while . But that ’s about it .
Can you eat shamrock root?
common wood sorrel root from SOME species is considered comestible .
They ’re magnanimous and have been civilise as a crop in New Zealand , however , you should avoid eating the root without consulting a professional .
If you do n’t know how to identify the root decent , you could make adverse effects from ingestion .
How to propagate shamrock
Shamrock actually ca n’t be harvested and then regrown from seed .
The plant can only be propagate by using existing Oxalis acetosella tubers or buying a common wood sorrel works from the local garden centerfield
This plant does n’t produce viable ejaculate , so you wo n’t find them for sale . Either detect a neighbour or friend that can give you some tubers or bribe one from the greenhouse to get it fit .
There are two main ways to propagate shamrock . Read them and see which one accommodate your dash !
Propagating by transplanting
you could propagate by doing it the one-time - fashioned way . Buy a shamrock plant life then grab a new mint to transplant it to .
You ’ll want to use a planter that ’s similar in sizing ( diameter ) . mark off the depth of the original shamrock roots . You ’ll want to replant it into a likewise sized Mary Jane .
Fill the new mess ⅔ full with a well - drain , nutrient - dense potting mix . Do n’t use garden soil . The pot should be well draining with multiple drain port so it does n’t get clog . Shamrock ca n’t brook wet feet !
mildly deracinate the original plant by tip the container to its side . you’re able to irrigate it if the soil is tough or hard . If the root word are rootbound , practice sterilized pruners to cut them from the pot .
This will loosen the shamrock plant so you may remove it from the original pot . Remove the filth from the shamrock beginning . You wo n’t be able-bodied to get it all off , but you could get most of it off by using body of water to undo it .
Replace the soil with a raw potting mix . Do n’t utilize the original land because it ’s likely wipe out of nutrients . Be gentle when doing any form of cutting . Trim only as much as you need to .
recycle the soil may also preface pests to your new pot . This is why you should remove as much as you may .
Place the shamrock into its new home . The plant should be placed about half an in tall than the original container .
This provide it to sit in over time because it ’ll ooze into place . occupy around the shamrock with newfangled soil . Pat it down . Then water it !
Keep the container within temperatures of 60 - 70F. It ’s preferred to keep it cool than warmer . pee it day by day , but do n’t exaggerate it . It should be moist but never wet .
post the container next to a gay pip , but not right away in the sun . use dappled filtrate visible radiation only .
Propagating by dividing
you could also well divide shamrock from a neighbour ’s plant . You ’ll need a virulent , institute shamrock to distil plant sections from .
The ideal meter to part is in the fall , usually from October onward .
This is because the plant will bring forth so you could extract!Autumn is when new shoots look and are good for disunite the tubers in the plant life . you could get more shamrocks to give away or expand your collection .
Get high - timbre , alimental - dense , well - draining grime . I know . Everyone says that . But it ’s because it ’s THAT important .
Next , take hold of a potter that ’s well draining and has at least a 5 ” diameter . The material of the potty matters .
prefer one that ’s terracotta or ceramic . moderately much anything that ’s poriferous . This cloth helps understate temperature swing , which can be harmful to younger shamrock seedling .
Do n’t use plastic . It chop-chop hot up up and does n’t keep on heat overnight . The pot should have at least 3 holes to enfeeble . duple - check that it does n’t take you to bore them yourself !
occupy the pot with potting soil one inch from the lip of the container . Let the filth baby-sit by shaking it so it evens out .
piddle it so it ’ll locate down even more . you’re able to give it a generous watering for the first sentence so it can build water tract .
mildly tilt the pot so you may unearth the flora . You only need to take out the top few inch of grime to see the hop clover roots . discover a genus Tuber that ’s at least 1 ” in diameter with complete roots on it .
If it has stems , that ’s prefer so you know you ’re pulling a genus Tuber that ’s ready to root . The tuber can be removed by softly tear it away from the others . But if it ’s too sweep , disregard it .
Wipe off any junk or soil puzzle on it . Then place it into the unexampled pot at 1 ” mysterious . get over it with a potting admixture , but do n’t pat it .
You desire it near the surface of the dirt line because if it ’s too deep , it ’ll likely rot or develop fungus . Plus , Trifolium dubium does n’t like to be wet . Moist is the name of the game .
Put the sens in temperate conditions near a cheery window . The twinkle should be promising , but filter sunlight that ’s NOT direct .
How to grow shamrock
You ’ll find that shamrock is a beginner - friendly houseplant that require very little piece of work . Here are some suggestions to maximize your hop clover ’s size of it .
Hardiness zone
Shamrock grows well in USDA hardiness zone 8 - 11 . If you ’re planning on growing it outside in your yard , be sure that you ’re within these zones .
Temperatures that are too hot or insensate will make it enter premature dormancy , which can limit those pretty flush .
Otherwise , if you ’re mature it inside your house , then you ’ve got nothing to occupy about . The geographical zone does n’t weigh for indoor houseplant . So plant on !
Soil
apply well - drain , moisture - retain stain with plenty of constitutional nutrient .
you may find a potting premix in nurseries that can be immix with plant supplements to get it saturated with nutrients . In other words , if you ca n’t discover the soil you call for for your shamrock , make your own !
apply constitutional stain if possible . Shamrock can be sensitive to harmful compounds in the soil pillar . Get loamy , sandy , well - draining acidulent grease .
Soil pH
The soil pH should be on the acid side , with a pH range of 4.5 - 6.5 for shamrock plants .
you’re able to advance the pH of your soil naturally using soil amendments . Potting intermixture for indoor plants usually fulfills this prerequisite .
While the pH wo n’t make or fail your shamrock ’s output , it can avail spruce up the color and overall happiness of your plant .
Depth
The seed should be planted 1 ” from the soil line and gently covered . If transplantation , it should be planted at the same ascendant depth as the original industrial plant . If growing from cutting , plant at least 5 in deep .
Spacing
If you ’re constitute multiple hop clover tubers in the same pot , give them 3 inches between each to help boost piss drying up and minimize competition for nutrients .
If you ’re just planting one per pot , then space it at least 2 inches more than the longsighted tooth root . It likes to be snug , but not too tight .
However , shamrock loosely fares well when the rootare confined so it can focalise its push on the production of blooms .
Temperature
Keep Trifolium dubium between 70 - 80 F during the daytime . During the night , it can tolerate temperatures as low as 50F.
This plant is both sensitive to temps that are too red-hot and too inhuman , so keep it in the idealistic reach . Dormancy is a common planetary house of temperatures that are way too red-hot for shamrock to tolerate .
If this is the case , move it away from the window so it does n’t face overheat . untimely dormancy is unwashed for shamrocks that are kept directly in the Lord’s Day .
Humidity
Trifolium repens opt average , moderate humidity . asseverate levels between 40 - 50 % . If the airwave is dry , you may apply a humidifier or hear point it near wetter area like the toilet or kitchen .
you may also use a pebble tray with water or near a room humidifier .
Sunlight
For south confront window , place them 2 - 3 fundament by from the window on bright sunny days . It require dappled luminosity , never verbatim light . If it ’s too sunny , it ’ll get desiccate and may even move into dormancy .
yellow or brown leaves , dry leafage , or stunted emergence are mark that your shamrock is getting scorched .
Full or partial sunshine is OK , but it count on your location . hot zones should practice filtered sunshine only .
Watering
weewee shamrock when the top column inch of grunge feel dry . Do n’t let Oxalis acetosella dry out between watering sessions .
While it has some degree of drought allowance , it ’s not excellent by any means . Soil should remain slightly moist during all periods . Water 2 - 3 sentence per calendar month . The soil should nearly dry out between lachrymation , but not completely if you have a well - debilitate stack .
If the grime is drain poorly , switching container or let it dry out out between lachrymation as a impermanent solution .
Plant food
cuckoo bread will do good from nourishment in the stain but takes industrial plant fertiliser as well . prey your shamrock once every other calendar week in the capitulation through spring .
When it produce its gorgeous blooms , feed more often using a fluent houseplant fertilizer .
you may adulterate it with piddle to help come down its long suit of it so you may feed it more often . Most shamrocks will do OK without fertiliser , but if you want to produce the maximum of bloom , take adding some flora food .
Use well - balanced houseplant food . Oxalis variety will bring on the most heyday when grown indoors .
Mulching
Mulching is n’t necessary for common wood sorrel . If temperatures dip below 40F , you’re able to put a half - inch bed of mulch on the soil to help isolate it . Remove during the growing season . Only habituate sparingly for frigid snaps .
Pruning
Pruning should be done with a yoke of sterilized scissors or pruning hook . Remove drained leaf or slimy ones .
Prune to keep it tidy and tasteful . cut back the leaf and spent flower are necessary for the summer when it enters dormancy . Feel loose to tidy it up by neatly trimming off yellowing or browning leaves .
dog-tired bloom should be take away so they can focalise their energy on producing other bloom . Cutting it back will help oneself encourage more unfolding .
Maintenance
Shamrock demand very little criminal maintenance once established . Just water it 2 - 3 fourth dimension per calendar month and give it some high - lineament plant food during the growing season .
Cut off drop leaves or bloom during dormancy passage . That ’s it .
If you want to keep it in good pattern , there are some things you may do to help improve your shamrock !
Repotting
Your plant life will outgrow its first dwelling house ( the 5 - inch pot ) and will require to be repot into a bountiful potentiometer .
Oxalis does n’t wish too much blank between the roots but does n’t care push roots either .
Being rootbound is a good thing , but upgrade as needed . Snug , loaded - meet pots will limit the roots from grow , which then wedge the common wood sorrel to grow efflorescence and leaves rather .
So specify the toilet size is a good thing . When you start escort the roots get out of the waste pipe holes or compact on the edges , then it ’s metre to repot . lightly remove it by tilt the bay window .
cut into out the soil being deliberate not to harm the theme . Then place the works into its new home by sticking it into the centre of a prefilled locoweed with the same or different grease . take the new kitty 2⁄3 of the way up with soil . It ’s also a good metre to tax how the soil contents are .
If you desire to experiment with other substrates , consider using a soil psychometric test outfit to see what it ’s miss / what it exhaust . large oxalis species can develop up of 24 inches wide and 18 inches improbable . The smaller ones will max out at 6 - 8 inches .
When the leafage or root have grown so dense that it becomes hard to water system , it ’s time to repot .
Visible roots that amount out of the bottom are also another foretoken that it needs a expectant menage . Increase the container size of it by 2 inches each time to ensure a snug burst . Keep the depth of the original container , but blow up its diameter of it .
The roots will be shallow when you uproot them , so be very careful not to damage them .
Remove as much of the old soil stuck on the root as you could . Settle the tip an inch higher .
The part where the shoot come out from the tubers should be about half an column inch marvellous than the previous locoweed .
seek to keep the tubers together so it ’s uniform . Fill it with soil to hold it in place . Water it well .
Overwintering
Trifolium repens can be stored between temperatures of 40 - 50F during the wintertime .
When the col has passed , the plant will take up bloom . Some cultivars will bloom throughout the winter time , so it ’s a good choice for a plant that produce flower even in the winter .
If you ’re plant outside , lay in the bulbs indoors for the summer . Then in the spring , you’re able to plant them alfresco with 1 ” of soil . water supply well and await foliage in a few weeks .
These plants will grow the most blooms indoors rather than outside . Note that if you take a aboriginal shamrock and attempt to plant it indoors , it commonly wo n’t take it well .
Seed saving
Shamrock seeds are n’t feasible for preservation , so this is n’t an choice . This is why you’re able to only buy it from a nursery or utilize bulbs / tubers from an existing one .
Companion plants
Shamrock pair well with other coloured houseplants . Although you should raise it in its own container , you could put it next to other houseplants like the Japanese Painted Fern , which makes a dear companion toOxalis triangularisin a perennial apparatus .
They both have purple , which can create a overnice matching colouring . Amaryllis is another good plant because of its complementary semblance . Taller houseplants can match with the shorter shamrock 6 column inch .
Don’t plant with
Avoid imbed with other houseplant that crowd or dwarf the light it needs to thrive .
This include improbable houseplant with large leafage that just blank out out visible light . If you contrive to put shamrock next to other plants , verify it gets its sunshine .
Dormancy
white clover enters sleeping during the beginning of summertime . This plant does n’t care the heat , so whenever the temporary clean up , it ’ll go into dormancy way .
It can also happen if there ’s a heat wave going on or if you do n’t irrigate it enough . Sometimes wide temperature swings can also make it go into former dormancy .
The fore will shed and the flowers will sag . If you discover that your shamrock randomly entered dormancy , you may stop watering and fertilizing . The leaves will turn yellow-bellied or dark-brown over time .
Then they ’ll drop off . Prune the foliage that ’s dead . Relocate the dope to a cooler smirch in your blank space . Then leave it there for the next month or so .
For instinctive sleeping , you ’ll want to give a rest period .
Green leaf shamrock will usually stay dormant for up to 90 days . Purple leaves will sleep for 30 days .
When the new offshoot start to show up , it ’s good to go again . Dormancy is over . Your shamrock is awake . Congrats . you may put it back to its original location , begin feed and sum up watering .
For sleeping halt from stress or heat , postdate the same steps . You ca n’t snap it out of dormancy . It needs to rest before it ’ll acquire . So let it be . set whatever the outlet was that caused the dormancy in the first space .
The torpid geological period will vary depending on the cultivar and local raise conditions . As soon as you see the new shoots , then dormancy is break . survey worry to get rewarded with those pretty leafage and copious blooms .
Container growing
select a container that ’s poriferous like terra cotta , clay , or stone . These materials help take in and vaporise weewee so it does n’t pool in the pot . Avoid plastics or pots that are nonporous .
Be sure it does n’t have some extra coating , such as glaze . This defeats the intention . The container should be at least 5 inch wide with multiple muddle to run out .
Growing outside
Trifolium dubium can be grown outside similarly to how you ’d grow it indoors , but time and time again , it produces more blossom and nicer foliation when turn out of direct sunshine in a cooler surround .
If you ’re look to grow it in your garden , you’re able to do so if you ’re in zones 8 - 11.In cooler climate , you’re able to originate it inside and then bring it out in the summertime for more sun .
Plant it in part sun and well - draining soil . you’re able to even put shamrock outdoors for a few hours during the summertime for more Sunday .
The tiny bulb can be planted in the fall or spring depending on your zone . It ’s commonly an indoor flora , but you may found it outside if you ’re in the ripe zone . Not too hot . Not too cold . It ’s Linosyris vulgaris .
Pests
Oxalis does n’t have any pest issues for the most part . There are a handful of germ that are commonly found munch on those precious shamrock leaves .
They ’re usually thripid , whitefly , vine weevils , blackflies , ascendent bug , mealybugs , spider mites , and worms . The majority of these bugs can be controlled by insecticidal sprays .
keep open your plant inside your house will keep the bugs out . If you see aphid on it , remove them by spray down your works .
Diseases
Shamrock is pretty hardy to most pathogen , but there are a few that you necessitate to view out for . First is ring touch . The yellow rings on the leaves is the common sign of the zodiac of it . It can be master by removed the plant from its container and removing the affected leave / shoot with sterilized pruners .
Fungal rust is another issue . This looks like orange or browned spots on the leaves . Remove the plant life an then wash it completely , then interchange it . antifungal soap may mould well .
The last issue is root rot . This is what happens when you irrigate too much without possess enough drainage . H2O less and ensure that the land is n’t compacted .
Other common questions about shamrock care
This segment contains question from readers that are commonly need about Shamrock .
You may find it useful . After all , this is a fear sheet !
Please ask your head using the phase at the goal of the page . We ’ll be happy to get back to you .
How often should I water a shamrock plant?
Water when the top column inch of soil is nearly dry . Use your finger to check over . If you ’re unsure , use a moisture time instead . This can accurately gauge the water depicted object in the filth so you never overwater .
Do shamrock plants need direct sunlight?
It count on where you go and the ambient temperatures . If you ’re in zone 8 - 11 , you should be OK to put it near a due south - face up window .
The sun should be trickle regardless . This will confine sun exposure and keep scorching or burning of the tips .
Do shamrock plants like to be misted?
Yes , they do . you could mist it to keep the ambient humidity up if the air is dry in your household . A light misting will keep it moist , but do n’t mist in position of watering .
Where should I place my shamrock plant?
Plae it 2 - 3 feet from a bright window . It should n’t be in unmediated sunshine . Use dribble light only .
What happens when a shamrock plant goes dormant?
It ’ll flex yellow or brownish with leaf drops . It ’ll also stop produce blooms . sleeping can be hotness or stress - bring on .
Both of which will take a rest period before they ’ll resume produce those cute leave again . So give it clock time and con from environmental stressors .
Do shamrock plants like to be root bound?
Rootbound Trifolium repens tends to give rise more foliage and blush compared to dutch clover which has plenty of space for the solution .
This is because a pocket-size tummy military unit it to stop produce roots and refocus that energy on the blossom and foliage instead .
Can you overwater a shamrock plant?
Just like any other houseplant , overwatering is a main killer of shammies . Never overwater your dutch clover .
Only weewee it so it ’s moist but never wet . The grease should be well draining so none of the water gets stick in the pot . lease it go ironic between watering . If you overwater , it ’ll precede fungus or mould .
Root rot is also common with wet and badly draining substratum .
How do you keep a shamrock plant from getting leggy?
If your Trifolium dubium catch thin or leggy , issue it back ! Consider incite it to somewhere that gets more short . Leggy stem come from plants that are not reaching for igniter .
Why are the tips of my shamrock plant turning brown?
The tips turn brown because it ’s either not get enough nutrient or there ’s too much sluttish .
Move it to somewhere that does n’t get as much lightness . Supplement with a plant fertilizer . Remove the browned wind using desexualize trimmer
Are coffee grounds good for shamrock plants?
common wood sorrel can benefit from acidic soil which can be help through the use of coffee because it ’s naturally acidulous .
you could lower the pH of your dirt using sprinkle java right into the soil aerofoil phone line , but do n’t overdo it .
Remember that the potted container is a “ unopen ” ecosystem , so if you put too much coffee bean in there , it can build up over time . Use only if your soil is too canonic or inert .
How do you make a shamrock bushy?
Keep the roots snug in the pot and dress it when it gets too magniloquent . This will force it to grow sideway instead which may help promote it to get bushy . Plant food for thought will also aid denser foliage .
When should I repot my shamrock plant?
You should repot your shamrock when the beginning are too snug and either coming out on the bottom of the pot .
If there ’s not enough space , your plant will bug out to grow fewer blooms . Repot to a big gage 2 ” self-aggrandising in diam than the previous one .
Keep the same height between the erstwhile and new pots .
Further reading/references
jibe out these sources for more elaborate info about white clover plants :
Oxalis oregana – Plants Wiki – Fandom
Grow shamrock at home
Shamrock is a one - of - a - sort plant that ’s overshadowed by the vacation . raise it anytime in your family and share it with champion when the holiday does amount out .
Enjoy those purple or pinkish blossom the residual of the time .
give that it ’s a summertime torpid houseplant , you’re able to enjoy the flowers the rest of the season when your other houseplant sleep .
Shamrock will be perked up and fall .
I ’ve always been concerned in gardening , but I never took it seriously until I was forcefully gifted an orchid . This was what fuck off me into the hobby and I ’ve never looked back . I revel write about it , but not nearly as much as getting into the soil and sculpt the perfect decorative ornamental to revel for the time .
