Purple shamrock
Purple shamrock 'Charmed Wine'
* Common name: Purple shamrock
* Botanical name: Oxalis regnelli (or triangularis)
* What it is: A summer-blooming bulb that gets triangle-shaped leaves of purple and small hanging lilac-pink flowers for weeks in summer.
* Size: 8 inches tall, plant small bulbs 6-8 inches apart
* Where to use: Best in shade as front-of-bed edging or ringing a shade shrub such as hydrangeas or rhododendrons. Also nice in a shady flower pot.
* Care: Scatter organic granular bulb fertilizer over bed in early April and October. Cut foliage to ground in fall after it browns. In normal winters, plants will survive to bloom again the following summer. To be safe, bulbs also can be lifted after fall browning and stored inside in a mesh bag or in a box of sphagnum peat moss or sawdust. Replant in early May.
* Great partner: Under ferns, cimicifuga or variegated Solomon’s seal.
Could this also be a house plant?
Tina,
Yes, it’ll go for months inside but eventually will want to go dormant. If/when it dies back, give it a few months of “rest” without water and then try a new cycle.
How can I get these? And can they stand up to 112 degree temp I wil in vegas
I have had mine in the house for15 years. Take it outside in the summer on my deck in the shade on a flower cart. 7/13/17 I measured it today it is 12″ tall x 16″ wide in full bloom. Gorgeous !
Maria,
If they survive Las Vegas heat, you’ll likely find them in garden centers out your way. If your garden centers aren’t carrying them, that could be a good clue they don’t do well. But you could order them from online bulb catalogs and give them a try… as a houseplant if nothing else.
Brought mine from CT to South TX 9 years ago. I planted it but it didn’t do very well so I put it in a pot and just keeps growing. The biggest problem is finding shade.
This is the first time I have grown the purple shamrock. I grew it as a potted plant on my deck mostly shade. Now I have brought into my house to try it for a houseplant. And yes it does have beautiful white flowers so I hope I can keep it alive until next spring to take it back out again.