Burgundy Shamrock for St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

Melinda’s Garden Moments is heard Mon.-Fri. at 7:45 and 10:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on WHAV.

Add a little purple to your green this St Patrick’s Day by planting a burgundy shamrock plant, botanically known as Oxalis ‘Triangularis.’

This beauty makes a great indoor plant or addition to the woodland garden, container plantings and flower border outdoors. Burgundy shamrock plant grows 6 to 12 inches tall and wide. The burgundy leaves are topped by dainty pale pink flowers, adding to its ornamental appeal.

Grow it indoors in a cool brightly lit location. Keep the soil slightly moist. As the leaves begin to wither and die, stop watering and allow the plant to go dormant. Begin watering and fertilizing once new growth appears in about 2 to 4 weeks.

Outdoors grow it in full sun for best color and bloom or partial shade with moist but well-drained soil. It’s hardy outdoors in zones 6 to 12 and can be grown as an annual in other areas.

A bit more information: Nastic movements in plants are a response to some environmental stimulus. Oxalis is a photonastic response plant. This means the leaves open when light is present during the day and close at night.

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