Shamrocks are not common in West Texas. The traditional “shamrock”, that means “luck of the Irish,” is Trifolium repens. Trifoliums are clovers that have trifoliate leaves—leaves that are divided into three leaflets. Occasionally a fourth leaflet will be produced, a four-leafed clover. Good luck is the gift of the finder of a rare four-leafed clover.
Another plant altogether, and most commonly referred to as a shamrock, is an Oxalis, specific epithet Oxalis regnellii, which is commonly called Lucky Shamrock or Love Plant.
Oxalis regnellii is a fitting substitute for the true shamrock, Trifolium repens, since eaves of Oxalis are also trifoliate, each leaf composed of three leaflets.
This is the legend of how the trifoliate shamrock came to be the symbol of St. Patrick: St. Patrick was an actual man, born in Roman-occupied Britain in the 5th century with the birth name Maewyn Succat. Young Maewyn was kidnapped by Irish pirates in about 400 A.D., enslaved and forced to herd the Roman sheep. He escaped and after walking 200 miles eventually made his way back to native Britain. He believed strongly it was the Lord who protected his trek home. He used the three leaflets of the shamrock leaf to explain the Holy Trinity. He became a priest, changed his name to Patricius, and returned to the land of his pagan Irish captors to preach the gospel of Christianity (from the Old Farmer’s Almanac).
Color of the trifoliate leaves of Oxalis may be almost black, purple, red or green with dainty flowers of white, yellow, pink or lavender. Leaves arise from underground structures that may be bulbs, rhizomes, or tubers depending upon variety.
Oxalis leaves have an airy, willowy appearance as each leaf is attached to a petiole, the long slender stem arising from the underground structure. Leaflets are nearly triangular or heartshaped, thus the common name ‘Love Plant’. The five-petaled blossoms also come from the underground structures.
Oxalis are easy to maintain perennials. They can be grown as houseplants or in the garden. Give them bright light; water when soil surface is slightly dry. Plants go dormant in the heat of the summer and growth is slowed. When a shamrock enters this period of dormancy cut back dried foliage and allow the plant to rest. Growth will resume when temperatures are cooler.
Ellen Peffley Harp, a retired professor of horticulture at Texas Tech University, writes about gardening for several Texas newspapers.
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