If you are planning to have a natural caring and beautiful houseplant, I would like to suggest you grow an Oxalis triangularis also known as the False Shamrock plant, a popular ornamental plant.
What is the Oxalis triangularis?
Background
The scientific name of the False Shamrock plant is Oxalis triangularis, which belongs to the family Oxalidaceae. It is native to South America, Brazil, and hardy in USDA zone 8-11. Other common names are purple shamrock, wood sorrel, and love plant. The plant has picked up its common name from the Irish shamrock symbol that refers to a triangular three-leaved plant or the clover.
Oxalis triangularis grows up to 12 inches tall and about 24 inches wide. The purple shamrock plant is a bulb-type flowering plant having deep maroon leaves.
It has three purple-shaped heart leaves, which may be purple, nearly black, reddish, or green. The leaves of the purple shamrock plant close at night and reopen during the daytime.
They bloom small e trumpet-shaped flowers during summer and spring. The variation of colors of the bloom is purple, white, or pink. It is quite attractive when mixed with plants with white or silver foliage like Dusty Miller or Spider Plant. The Oxalis triangularis plant is edible but toxic to pets, and they are both rabbit and deer resistant.
Scientific classification of Oxalis triangularis
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Oxalidaceae |
| Genus: | Oxalis |
| Species: | O. triangularis |
Varieties of Oxalis triangularis plants
The Oxalis triangularis plant falls into one of three subspecies: subsp. papilionaceous, subs. Glabrifolia and subsp. lepida. Some of the species of this purple shamrock plant are reddish, green, or purple. Some of the varieties of plants are as follows:
Oxalis triangularis Francis
Oxalis triangularis Francis is a bright purple shamrock. It is one of the most popular cultivated forms, and it is vividly purple—the flower blooms during its flowering season from white to lavender-pink.
Oxalis triangularis Charmed Jade
Oxalis triangularis charmed Jade is bright green. This variety of false shamrock plants is not purple or red range. It is not as popular as the darker varieties, but it is still an absolute delight. It blooms medium-green color with ivory or white flowers.
Oxalis triangularis Ebony Allure
Ebony Allure is a lovely variation that is hardy in zones 7-9. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves, so it is best kept in partial shade. The leaves of this variety of Oxalis triangularis plants are so dark that they can be mistaken for black. The flowers of Ebony Allure begin as a pale pink and fade to white.
Where to grow an Oxalis triangularis plant?
The Oxalis triangularis plant is quickly grown in light, medium, well-drained soils. A bright direct light or a little part of shade is preferable. Do not propagate the plant in a dark location.
How to grow Oxalis triangularis plant?
The Oxalis triangularis is lovely, both indoors and outdoors. It is a perfect houseplant, and the purple shamrock plant can be propagated by seed or division. They can be grown alone or in combination with other plants.
How to grow an Oxalis triangularis plant from the division method?
The division method for growing an Oxalis triangularis plant is the most reliable. Try to avoid cutting rhizome while using this method for propagation. Divide the bulbs of the plant from its roots into a smaller clump.
Steps to grow a plant from the division method are:
- Fill 2/3 of the container with a well-drained potting mix.
- Water the soil to settle it down.
- Place the purple shamrock bulbs spacing few inches apart and 1.5 inches deep in the soil. You can put three bulbs in a single pot.
- Cover the bulbs with soil and water it.
- Place the container in the location with bright indoor light.
- After 2-3 weeks, you will see new growth in the bulb.
How to grow an Oxalis triangularis plant from seeds?
You can also propagate an Oxalis triangularis through seeds. The seeds of this plant are readily available in garden centers or grocery stores.
Steps to growing an Oxalis triangularis plant from seeds are:
- Fill 2/3 of the container with a well-drained potting mix.
- Water the soil to settle it down.
- Sow some seeds on the top of soil about ½ inch deep.
- Add a thin layer of soil above the planted seeds, and water it.
- Cover the top of the container with plastic to keep the soil moist.
- Place the container or pot in a sunny location with bright direct sunlight.
- After a few days, you will start to see germinations.
- Remove the plastic cover and place it in a sunny location.
How to grow Oxalis in a flowering pot?
- To grow oxalis in either pot, barrels, tubs, and urns, first, you need to fill your containers with good quality, well-drained soil with adequate drainage holes as the bulbs cannot survive in soggy soil or standing water.
- Then put the container or pot in a sunny location where they get full day sun. It can grow in light shade, but it will produce more flowers in a stronger light. You can plant few bulbs for indoor enjoyment in the windowsills as well because they add attraction to your home.
- For indoor growing and windowsill decorations as a houseplant, you can plant oxalis regnelli, the classic shamrock plant, or oxalis triangularis. The half-day sun is sufficient for these plants. Oxalis triangularis will grow taller than that of regnelli.
- Dig a little hole with a garden scoop and planting the bulbs 1 or ½ inches deep with 3 or 4 inches apart. For 8 inches pots, you need to plant six bulbs; for 10 inches pot -10 plants, and 8 inches pots, you can plant six bulbs only.
- After planting the bulbs, you need to water the plants regularly.
- Foliage will begin to appear in just a few weeks and flowers in six to eight weeks.
- After blooming has finished for the season, you need to leave the foliage for the further gathering of sunlight, and the creation of food and nutrients through photosynthesis to strengthen the oxalis bulbs for the future.
How to Care Oxalis triangularis plant?
This plant is easy to care for. You should care for the purple shamrock plant properly. Some of the tips for caring this plant are as follows:
Light and temperature requirement
The plant grows well in bright to medium direct sunlight, and it can also tolerate a pleasant shade. This plant grows well in the morning light. The temperature should be between 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit during the night. The temperature should not be higher than 75 degrees Fahrenheit, as it can cause the problem to the plant.
Water and humidity
You should allow the soil to dry in between the watering of the plant. Overwatering the plant can rot the bulb, and even kill the plant. Remember to stop watering the plant, if the plant becomes dormant. Water the plant once in a week. Average room humidity is suitable for the false shamrock plant.
Soil
The Oxalis triangularis grows well in the potting mix that drains well. If the soil is too heavy, then it may rot the bulb or fibrous root. For better results, use a lightweight potting mix and a slow-release fertilizer. Oxalis triangularis likes moist soil, but they do not grow well in overly wet soil. The soil should be loamy and sandy type having a pH value of 6.1 to 6.5.
Fertilization
Feed the plant once every 1 or 2 weeks. Do not feed in winter and fall when the plant during dormancy. You should not fertilize the plant for the first year of growth. You can use commercial fertilizer or a slow-release fertilizer, but organic compost is the best.
Pruning
It does not take long for the maintenance of oxalis triangularis. Pruning this plant is very easy. Remove the spent flower stalks once the blooms fade. Trim the brown foliage to about 1 inch from the plant’s base, and leave the mulch to cool the plant’s base. Move the plant to a cold and dark place for few days until the plant becomes healthy.
Propagation
The purple shamrock plant can be propagated by seed or division. The most reliable method of propagation is through division. This plant can be grown alone or in combination with other plants. The reproduction of the plant is done best when it is in the dormant stage. For the propagation of plants, the deep pot is preferred rather than the shallow one.
Treatment of various diseases of the Oxalis triangularis
Pest and treatment
The main pests the Oxalis triangularis plant experiences are:
• Whiteflies
• Aphids
• Fungus gnats
• Mealybugs
• Red Spider mites
If the False Shamrock plant shows any sign of these insect pest infestations, do not hesitate to use insecticides. Apply Neem oil or Silicon Dioxide for seven days. You can also use homemade sprays, and test it in leaves before applying it to the whole plant. Soap spray is an excellent homemade spray to remove these pests. Mix two tablespoons of soap to a gallon of water and spray it to the plant properly.
Spray oil or sprinkle some powder on your plant so that there is a light layer on the leaves and the soil. The bugs and insects will walk through it and die soon after it comes in contact with them. Using yellow sticky traps helps to cut down the population of Fungus gnat, or you can also try using dryer sheets to remove them. You can also use a cotton ball soaked in alcohol to wipe away these insect rogues.
Issues and treatment
The false shamrock plant suffers from a lot of issues. The problems mostly occur when they are grown in poorly-drained soil or low light. Excessive watering and poor circulation also lead to issues such as:
Powdery mildew
Symptoms: White powdery mildew in the leaves of False Shamrock plant
Treatment: Spraying milk solution or Neem water can stop it from spreading.
Root rot
Symptoms: Wilting and discolored leaves, brown roots.
Treatment: Remove brown roots with sterilized scissors, and replant affected plants in fresh soil and good drainage.
Burnt leaves
Symptoms: Wilting and abscission of the leaf.
Treatment: Avoid over-fertilization and water the plant slowly.
Rust
Symptoms: Pale leaf spots, and small light yellow flecks on the foliage.
Treatment: Remove infected parts and destroy them.
Botrytis
Symptoms: Discoloration, spotting, and wilting of False Shamrock flowers
Treatment: Prune plants to improve air circulation and add the right amount of organic compost.
Uses of an Oxalis triangularis
Some of the uses of this plant are listed below:
- This houseplant purifies the indoor air and adds natural beauty.
- The leaves of oxalis triangularis have antimicrobial properties.
- It is used for decorative purposes and is also gifted.
- The false shamrock plant attracts butterflies and bees for the pollination process.