Shamrock Plants
@enjoythejourney (523)
United States
August 10, 2012 4:32pm CST
Have you ever grown a shamrock plant? Did it bring good luck to your surroundings or is that just an old folk tale? I have a beautiful purple shamrock plant ( I will go outside in a bit and take a photo of it and post it tonight. It has beautiful triangular leaves and very pale lavender flowers. As to whether it brings good luck to my home I am not sure but it sure does has a beautiful touch and maybe that is all the luck I need.
2 people like this
2 responses
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
10 Aug 12
Many plants which have trifoliate leaves are mistakenly called shamrock, including several species of oxalis (which is quite a different family).
The true shamrock has small yellow flowers and green leaves. It was supposed to be used by St Patrick to illustrate the nature of the Holy Trinity (but this story only appears in the 18th century, so it is very likely to be an invention). It is a member of the clover family and the white clover is often called 'shamrock' as well, though the name comes from the Irish meaning 'little clover'.
The three leaved plant known as the shamrock is the emblem of Ireland and there is nothing specifically 'lucky' about it. Luck comes only if you happen to find a plant with four leaflets rather than three (and five-leaved clovers are supposed to be even luckier).
Never mind that your plant is almost certainly NOT a shamrock, it is undoubtedly a very pretty plant. Gardening and the love of and caring for plants is a very special art which confers 'luck' (or rather benefits) on the persons who practice it. Those people who create beautiful gardens and love plants are always beautiful people themselves.
@enjoythejourney (523)
• United States
10 Aug 12
Thanks for the info. This plant is a member of oxalis family. It was listed in the nursery as both oxalis and common name purple shamrock. I just saw it and thought it as the prettiest plant with those large purple leaves and delicate flowers. It is started with small tubers and grows and grows. It just the prettiest thing and I guess I just feel "lucky" to find such a pretty plant.
Thank you again for the accurate information- it is nice to learn about the actual shamrock plant.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
11 Aug 12
Oxalis is a very pretty and neat plant. The trouble is that it does, as you say, just grow and grow. It is actually a pernicious weed and, once you have it, it is devilish hard to get rid of (and nothing else will grow where it decides to take over). The more you try to dig it out, the more those little tubers will spread and, eventually, it becomes one of those things which you both love and curse under your breath!
Probably, if you have already put it in your border in an unguarded moment, the best thing to do is to leave it severely alone. It will spread, but much less quickly than if you try to mess with it and dig it up. The best place for it is in a pot or a container (like an old kitchen sink) on a patio ... but don't be surprised when you see small plants sprouting between the paving. It sets seed as well as those little tubers!
@NicoleMcNeal (130)
• St. Cloud, Florida
15 Nov 15
I have some patches with little pink flowers in my yard that seem to grow wild. Very pretty and delicate. I noticed theyre fragile and dont like being moved.
