Shamrock Plant
Oxalis
Clover Plant
Shamrock plants, or Oxalis, appear in flower shops around St. Patrick’s Day. These plants have the nickname shamrock plant because of their three, thin, triangular leaflets that look like a lucky clover plant. There are several stories associated with the shamrock plant. One of the most popular is that St. Patrick, the saint who brought Christianity to Ireland, picked a shamrock plant from the grass to explain the Holy Trinity to his congregation. The three leaves, he said, represented the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the anniversary of his death. The shamrock plant is also credited with the arrival of spring and as a symbol for the “season of rebirth.”Oxalis regnelli, the green leafed version, has small delicate white flowers; while Oxalis triangularis, or False Shamrock, has dark purple leaves and pinkish lavender flowers. Shamrock plants are bulb plants and die back after they bloom. Don’t throw them out, they just need a little rest before starting to grow again.
These plants are considered slightly poisonous if eaten in large quantities and should be kept away from pets and children. Read more about common houseplants that are poisonous in Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
Shamrock Plant
Light
Shamrock plants need bright indirect lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light. to grow well and produce flowers. They often bloom all winter if kept in a well-lit spot.
Water
Keep the soil barely moist but never soggy and allow the top 2” of soil to dry out before watering. It’s best to water a shamrock plant from the bottom so the thin fragile stems of the plant don’t get water logged and the soil stays loose.
Fertilizer
Feed monthly in the spring and summer when a shamrock plant is actively growing with a balanced fertilizerPlants need fertilizer only when they are actively growing. Slow growing plants in low light require very little plant food. Too much fertilizer is worse than not enough. Most plants prefer a water soluble plant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Plants that are in bloom or dormant should not be fertilized. Houseplant food contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A fertilizer containing these elements in equal proportion is considered a balanced plant food. Nitrogen helps in photosynthesis and encourages the growth of leaves and stems. Potassium and phosphorus also help in photosynthesis and aid in root and flower development. Most fertilizers have trace elements of other minerals that are lacking in the soil but are necessary for good plant growth. Fertilizers have a high salt content. If a plant is not producing new leaves and doesn’t absorb the fertilizer, salts build up in the soil. These salts can burn the roots, discolor the leaves, and cause new growth to be small.
diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength. Never feed a shamrock plant when it is dormant and the bulbs are resting.
Temperature
Shamrock plants grow best in cool temperatures between 60°-70°F (15.6°-21.1°C) during the day and 55°-65°F (12.8°-18.3°C) at night.
Humidity
Shamrock plants do well in basic household humidity.
Flowering
The shamrock plant variety oxalis regnelli has small, delicate, white flowers. The shamrock variety oxalis triangularis has delicate little lavender flowers.
Pests
Shamrock plants attract AphidsSee a picture, learn to identify, and read about Aphid houseplant pests in the Glossary of Houseplant411.com., whitefliesLearn how to identify and treat the plant pest called Whitefly at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/whitefly-plant-pests, and spiders mites. Use the “ green solutionIf you don't want to use a commercial chemical product to treat plant pest problems try the “Green Solution.” This is a mixture of water, alcohol, biodegradable liquid soap, and mineral oil. Always test any spray on one or two leaves to be sure it won’t damage the plant. Depending upon how severe the infestation is, you can use these ingredients in varying proportions. If there are only a few pests, dip a Q-tip in alcohol and gently swab them off. For a more widespread problem, start by using a spray of warm water mixed with a few tablespoons of biodegradable soap. If that doesn’t cure the problem, make a solution using 8oz. water & 8oz. alcohol, add two tablespoons of biodegradable soap and two tablespoons of mineral oil. Spray all areas of the plant. Use this solution on leathery leafed plants (except palms), never on fuzzy leafed plants like African Violets or Begonias. For palms, omit the alcohol from the Green Solution. Never spray a plant that’s sitting in the sun or one with very dry soil.
,” a mixture of ½ mild soapy water, ½ alcohol and a few tablespoons of mineral oil to get rid of the spider mitesLearn how to identify and treat Spider Mites on plants. This sucking plant pest causes yellow blotchy leaves with a red haze and a gritty feel to them. and AphidsSee a picture, learn to identify, and read about Aphid houseplant pests in the Glossary of Houseplant411.com.. Yellow Sticky Insect cards is the best way to handle whitefliesLearn how to identify and treat the plant pest called Whitefly at https://www.houseplant411.com/glossary/whitefly-plant-pests.
Diseases
Fungal rust (brownish/orange discoloration on the backs of leaves) and chlorotic ring spot (yellow rings on the tops of leaves) are the two main diseases to watch out for. In both instances, take the plant out of the pot, scrub the pot with a mild bleach mixture, and then wash it well before repotting the plant in fresh soil. Spray the plant with Neem OilLearn about Neem Oil, a natural, organic, non-toxic product for treating houseplant insects and diseases..
Soil
Use a loose and sandy soil rather than a rich and organic soil.
Pot Size
Keep shamrock plants in small pots to prevent over- watering.
Pruning
If your shamrock plant gets thin and leggy, cut the plant back to an inch or two above the soil line and place it in very bright indirect lightVery few houseplants should be placed in direct sun. High light refers only to bright indirect light since direct sun often burns the leaves of indoor houseplants. An area that is too hot and dry encourages Spider Mites and causes blooms to quickly fade. A northern exposure really doesn't provide enough light for high light plants. These plants need to be placed directly in front of an east-facing window, within 1-3 feet of a west-facing window, and within 5 ft. of a south facing window. A high light area has over 300 ft. candles of light.. Elongated stems occur because the plant is reaching for the light.
Propagation
The best time to propagate a shamrock plant is in the early spring right after its dormant stage. Shamrock plants are propagated by bulb division. These plants have very small bulbs that are referred to as bulblets. The healthy bulbs are small, white, and puffy.
Resting Period
After a shamrock plant blooms, the leaves turn yellow, droop, and need to be removed; this usually occurs in the late fall. While it looks like the plant is dying, your shamrock plant is really starting its resting or dormant phase. After all of the leaves have died, stop watering and move your plant to a cool, low- light area. Green shamrock plants need to rest for 2-3 months while purple shamrock plants need only about a month. After your plant has rested for the appropriate amount of time, move it back into bright, indirect light and water as usual. Once new growth appears, fertilize with a balanced houseplant food diluted to ½ the recommended strength. Shamrock plants may go dormant several times a year.
Special Occasion
Shamrock plants are very popular gifts for St. Patrick's Day and Easter.
Poisonous Plant Info
Shamrock plants are slightly poisonousPlants are a great addition to homes and offices, but it’s important to know whether your plants are dangerous to children, pets, or even adults. Some plants contain chemicals such as oxalates, solanine, glycosides, or alkaloid lycorine that may cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, swelling and redness of the mouth, throat, and lips, and trouble breathing. Touching parts of certain plants, especially the sap, may cause various skin irritations. The weight and age of the human or pet involved, and the part and amount of plant eaten determine how severe the reaction to the toxins will be. Although plants may be listed as non-toxic, they can still cause individual allergic reactions. If there is any question after a houseplant has been ingested or touched immediately call the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222 The Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants [Paperback]is an excellent reference to keep around if you have young children and pets. if eaten in very large quantities with a #1 toxicity levelThese are general guidelines that describe how poisonous certain houseplants are. It's possible for an allergic reaction to occur from contact with any houseplant, toxic or non-toxic. If there is ever a concern, call: Poison Control Center: ******1-800-222-1222******
Level #1: Houseplants with low toxicity, may be mildly irritating, especially the sap of the plant.
Level#2: Houseplants with medium to severe toxicity. Eating parts of these houseplants may result in vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties.
Level #3: These houseplants are very poisonous. When eaten, especially in large quantities, severe vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pains, skin irritations, and breathing difficulties can occur.
Level #4: These houseplants are extremely poisonous. Eating parts of these houseplants can be be life threatening.
Every plant listed in our Popular HousePlant guide has a section explaining whether or not it is poisonous and, if so, how poisonous. Amaryllis, alocasia, dieffenbachias, crotons, ivies, azaleas, lilies, and philodendrons are just a few of the highly poisonous plants we use in our homes and offices all of the time. If you don't know whether your houseplant is poisonous, go to Ask Judy on the HousePlant411.com website, send her a picture of your plant, and she'll let you know if the houseplant should be kept away from small children and pets.
See colorful pictures and get more information about poisonous houseplants in
Don’t Feed Me To Your Cat! A Guide to Poisonous Houseplants
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Why is my shamrock plant so thin and spindly looking. Can I ever get it to look full again?
To help a shamrock plant become fuller and bushier, move the plant to a location that gets more light and be sure the temperature stays on the cool side.
I have lots of leaves on my shamrock plant but I never get any flowers. How do I get a shamrock plant to flower?
The soil your shamrock is planted in may be too rich in organic matter and not sandy enough. Rich soil helps with leaf growth but impairs flower growth. You can also try stressing the plant by letting it dry out a little more before watering it. This often helps it to flower.
When is the best time of year to propagate a shamrock plant?
The best time to propagate a shamrock plant is right after its dormant stage when you are about to return it to its normal bright location and start watering again. Separate the Shamrock plant bulbs and plant them in slightly sandy soil.
My shamrock plant always gets yellow leaves not just when it is going dormant. What am I doing wrong?
Yellow leaves on a shamrock plant indicate over watering. Try allowing the soil of your shamrock plant to dry out more before you water.
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