Hello all! i purchased a shamrock for St. patty's day and it withered away.....but to my surprise it came back with a vengeance! I have it outside now and the temps are dropping, should I leave it outside for winter or bring it in? moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
Hello Zinnia. The folks here leave the shamrock (an Oxalis sort) in the ground the whole winter, but how it works where you live, I am not sure.
Which plant did you buy? Shamrock, purple Shamrock or Oxalis? So many different plants have been given the same common name it gets really confusing. Trifolium repens is sometimes called Shamrock because it is a three-leaf white clover. Purple Shamrock or False Shamrock is Oxalis triangularis. Oxalis is the largest Genus in the Wood-sorrel Family. Most often garden centers in the U.S. sell the purple Shamrock aka False Shamrock..Oxalis triangularis (Purple Shamrock), around St. Patrick's day and it is winter hardy in zones 8a-11 (sometimes in colder areas with a lot of mulch or taken indoors)
forgive me...it is an Oxalis, green triangular leaves with white flowers....i have it in a pot...more help please
It's really impossible to say without knowing which your plant is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamrock There are about 800 species of Oxalis, and about 300 of Trifolium. I *think* oxalis all have a bulb in the soil, but really don't know. If you find bulbs, I think that would mean it's definitely not Trifolium. A peek in the soil might be the best first clue. Then you can narrow it down to the white-flowered varieties. It still may be impossible for a non-professional to determine. If it does die down again, just try to keep it slightly moist but never soggy or totally bone dry. After a dormancy, it may jump back up again as you've already experienced. More light overall might help.
