Oxalis triangularis
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Oxalis triangularis
Deep purple, butterfly-shaped leaves that fold closed at dusk and open again each morning – a plant that truly moves with the light. Sprays of dainty pale-pink or white flowers add to the charm.
Also known as: Purple Shamrock, False Shamrock, Love Plant, Butterfly Plant
Origins & folklore: The Purple Shamrock is native to Brazil and neighbouring parts of South America, including Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Each stem carries three triangular leaflets like a butterfly's wings, and at night they fold down as if the butterfly were resting – a movement botanists call nyctinasty. Leave it on a table for an evening and you can almost watch it go to sleep.
Oxalis comes from the Greek oxys, meaning 'sour', after the sharp, lemony taste of its leaves. Its clover-like leaves link it to the shamrock and the luck it's said to bring, making it a popular gift around St Patrick's Day – although the true Irish shamrock is actually a clover. It grows from small bulb-like rhizomes, which is why it bounces back so readily after a rest.
Size: Delivered in a 12cm plastic nursery pot.
Care guide
• Light: Bright light, including a little direct morning sun. Avoid harsh afternoon sun; in low light it becomes leggy and stops flowering.
• Watering: Keep lightly moist in spring and summer, letting the top 2–3cm dry out between waterings. Never leave it standing in water.
• Humidity & temperature: Average household humidity is fine. Happiest between 16–24°C; protect from cold draughts.
• Feeding: A balanced houseplant feed once a month while it's in active growth.
• Good to know: Every so often – often after flowering or in winter – it may droop and die back. Don't worry: it's simply resting. Stop watering, trim off the old leaves and leave it somewhere cool for 4–6 weeks. When new shoots appear, start watering again, and it will spring back to life.
Toxicity: Toxic if eaten. Contains soluble oxalates, which can cause drooling and vomiting in cats and dogs, and more serious problems if large amounts are eaten. Keep out of reach of pets and young children.
Also known as: Purple Shamrock, False Shamrock, Love Plant, Butterfly Plant
Origins & folklore: The Purple Shamrock is native to Brazil and neighbouring parts of South America, including Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. Each stem carries three triangular leaflets like a butterfly's wings, and at night they fold down as if the butterfly were resting – a movement botanists call nyctinasty. Leave it on a table for an evening and you can almost watch it go to sleep.
Oxalis comes from the Greek oxys, meaning 'sour', after the sharp, lemony taste of its leaves. Its clover-like leaves link it to the shamrock and the luck it's said to bring, making it a popular gift around St Patrick's Day – although the true Irish shamrock is actually a clover. It grows from small bulb-like rhizomes, which is why it bounces back so readily after a rest.
Size: Delivered in a 12cm plastic nursery pot.
Care guide
• Light: Bright light, including a little direct morning sun. Avoid harsh afternoon sun; in low light it becomes leggy and stops flowering.
• Watering: Keep lightly moist in spring and summer, letting the top 2–3cm dry out between waterings. Never leave it standing in water.
• Humidity & temperature: Average household humidity is fine. Happiest between 16–24°C; protect from cold draughts.
• Feeding: A balanced houseplant feed once a month while it's in active growth.
• Good to know: Every so often – often after flowering or in winter – it may droop and die back. Don't worry: it's simply resting. Stop watering, trim off the old leaves and leave it somewhere cool for 4–6 weeks. When new shoots appear, start watering again, and it will spring back to life.
Toxicity: Toxic if eaten. Contains soluble oxalates, which can cause drooling and vomiting in cats and dogs, and more serious problems if large amounts are eaten. Keep out of reach of pets and young children.
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