St Patrick’s Day is Monday March 17th. Keep the legend of Bishop St. Patrick going by getting a Shamrock Plant and continue his teaching with its 3 in 1 leaf.

St. Patrick taught Irish Christians about the mystery of the Trinity of God by showing them the leaf of the Shamrock...

St. Patrick reflected a minute, after being asked about the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, he stooped down and he plucked a leaf from the Shamrock and held it before them, bidding them to behold the living example of the 3 in 1. The simple beauty of this explanation convinced even the skeptics, and form that day the shamrock has been revered throughout Ireland.

Most of the “Shamrocks” that are sold here are truly not the original, but members of the Oxalis family. This All-American is found from Washington State to California growing in meadows & fields. However many other kinds of Oxalis are available from many other parts of the world?

The flowers range in color from white to rose to purple markings, even rose veined with purple. The plant will flower anytime in small pots.

This beautiful plant likes medium light for growing – high light for blooming. No direct sunlight.

Keep your Shamrock moist to the touch, without saturating it. Fertilize very other month. Remember to mix the fertilizer according to the label instructions.

Other plants pass themselves off as Irish plants this time of year, such as the Pilea – or Leprechaun Toes. This ground hugger is a great plant that takes little care.

Chill-induced damages occur when plants are held at 50 degrees for more than four days.

The carpet of green leaves that this plant produces will spill over the side of the pot.

It prefers brighter light locations, it likes to watered well so that it feels moist to the touch and fed about once every other month.

By Patrick M. Gustaf, AAF, SDCF
Gustaf's Greenery, Inc.