Pink Flowering False ‘Shamrocks’
Isn’t this a pretty flowering shamrock?
Okay, it’s not really a shamrock. It does belong to a family of plants known as ‘false shamrocks’.
Since I can’t grow real shamrocks in my desert garden, I just like to pretend that my pink- flowering one is the real deal.
This plant that masquerades as a shamrock in my vegetable garden is actually Pink Wood Sorrel, (Oxalis crassipes ‘Rosea’).
I received this lovely plant from a fellow blogger, who gardens in Oregon.
I saw this beautiful flowering plant on one of her and she kindly sent me some a few years ago that she had divided from her plant.
Would this plant grow in my desert garden, I wondered?
Well, it not only grew…
It has thrived!
Hardy to zones 5 – 10, it flowers in spring and fall. During the hot summer, it goes dormant but quickly grows back.
Because it has done so well, I have divided it and place it in other partly shady spots in my vegetable gardens.
I planted it in my vegetable garden where it would do well in enriched soil and receive regular water.
I love the tiny flowers that close at night.
Unlike other species of Oxalis, Pink Wood Sorrel is not invasive.
Even when not in flower, I love how pretty this plant is.
I enjoy growing some plant species that might seem out of place in the desert climate. You just have to adjust the growing conditions a bit. A partly shady corner of the vegetable garden works just perfectly for my false ‘shamrock’.
Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
My pink wood sorrel tends to get a bad case of rust just as I begin to admire it….
This is really a cute little plant, but are you sure it's not a type of shamrock? After all, it does have oxalis in the name like shamrocks.
Do you know of any local places to purchase this plant?
That's so pretty.I have trouble associating the word oxalis with something desirable in the garden though 🙂
Hi Marci,
I don't know of any local places. Perhaps you can find an online grower?
Good Luck!
Noelle
I was given some of the little rhisomes from a friend's garden back in 1989 and have enjoyed this plant since then! Mine are big balls of pink blooms now. Love your blog
I was given some of the little rhisomes from a friend's garden back in 1989 and have enjoyed this plant since then! Mine are big balls of pink blooms now. Love your blog
I grew up with pink sorrel growing in our front garden here in Ireland. It was known locally by all the children as “Charlies” . We would pick the leaves and chew on their long stalks for the sour taste… used to love them!
Hi Edel,
What a lovely memory! I remember chewing on the stalks as well when I was a girl in California. I don’t remember seeing it when I visited Ireland, but if I ever get back to your beautiful country, I will definitely look for some. 🙂