How to identify and care for false shamrock?

Thank you for your question! I was able to find a few different varieties for false shamrock.

The scientific name is Oxalis triangularis, formerly Oxalis regnellii. The variety names I found are ‘Francis,’ ‘Myka,’ ‘Fanny,’ and ‘Atropurpurea.’ One source called it Oxalis regnelli var. triangularis. In that case, the variety would be ‘triangularis.’ I hope this helps!

Check out the OSU College of Agriculture for more information on scientific plant names (binomial nomenclature).

Growing false shamrock

Purple shamrock plant is an ornamental garden or houseplant that is actually native to South America. The trifoliate leaves resemble a shamrock, hence the name. As St. Patrick's Day approaches in early March, these plants are widely available in gardening stores.

Here are some care tips for false shamrock:

• Use a loamy potting mix with good drainage. Allow the surface to dry between waterings.
• Place in full sun to partial shade. This plant prefers bright light.
• If the plant goes dormant, cut back on watering and wait for new growth to appear.

Here is more information about false shamrock:

• Oxalis triangularis (false shamrock, love plant, purple shamrock, purple wood sorrel), North Carolina State University Extension
• Shamrocks, Oxalis spp., University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension
• Purple shamrocks, Texas Tech University