{"product_id":"oxalis-regnellii","title":"Oxalis regnellii","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eOxalis regnellii\u003c\/strong\u003e, better known as the \u003cstrong\u003egreen false shamrock\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003elucky clover\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003egood luck plant\u003c\/strong\u003e, is a charming little bulbous plant that throws up a low mound of fresh green, triangular, clover-shaped leaves topped with masses of delicate, star-shaped white flowers. This is the green-leaved, white-flowered form, quite distinct from the purple \u003cstrong\u003eOxalis papilionacea\u003c\/strong\u003e. It is closely tied to \u003cstrong\u003eOxalis triangularis\u003c\/strong\u003e, the green regnellii being widely treated as the green form of that species, so you may find the very same plant sold as Oxalis triangularis, Oxalis regnellii, green shamrock or simply false shamrock. The trefoil leaflets fold shut at night and open wide to the light each morning, so the whole plant seems to breathe with the day. It is a neat, quietly magical thing for the front of a warm border, a gritty pot or a sunny windowsill ledge outdoors in summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHonesty first on hardiness. This is \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e a fully hardy garden plant. The RHS rates the false shamrock \u003cstrong\u003eH3\u003c\/strong\u003e, which means it is frost tender and winter dormant, so treat it as a borderline exotic rather than a plant-and-forget perennial. The green regnellii form is often cited as a touch tougher than the purple, but it is still not reliably hardy outdoors. In a mild, sheltered, sharply drained spot it can come back year after year, but in most gardens the safe route is to grow it in a pot you can move, or to lift the little bulbs before hard frost. The leaves die back completely in winter and reappear in spring, so an empty pot in January is normal, not a failure. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide explains how tender exotics behave through the seasons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e a bright spot in sun or dappled shade, with shelter from cold winds. Ideal for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots, patios and balconies\u003c\/a\u003e that can be tucked away in winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e sharp, free-draining, gritty compost or soil. Wet feet, especially in winter, are the one thing it will not forgive, so it suits \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e conditions in summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e compact, reaching only around 10 to 20 cm tall and wide, so it never outgrows a container.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H3, frost tender. Lift the bulbs or move pots under cover before hard frost, and keep them dry and frost free until spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to South America, from Brazil down into Argentina, it grows from small bulbs and rhizomes and is deciduous, resting through the colder months. Grow it in a pot you can lift and shelter, or dig up the little bulbs before the first hard frost and store them dry and frost free until spring. Water regularly through spring and summer while it is in leaf and flower, letting the surface dry between drinks, then ease right off as the foliage fades in autumn and keep the dormant bulbs nearly dry. Do watch for its party trick each evening, when the leaves fold down and close up for the night before opening again with the morning light. Its long flowering and gentle habit make it a lovely companion among our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-bulbs\"\u003eexotic bulbs and tubers\u003c\/a\u003e and wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range, and it earns its keep as a pollinator-friendly filler.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA quick note on the name. It is often traded as Oxalis regnellii and is closely allied to Oxalis triangularis, with the purple-leaved form sold separately as Oxalis papilionacea. Whichever label you find it under, this is the green-leaf, white-flower plant. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, hand-selected and packed with care to arrive in lovely condition, ready to pot up or plant out once the frosts have passed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"12cm \/ 1L","offer_id":57933823607167,"sku":"OXALPAPIWHITE12","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_417364f0-0ce5-4359-a41e-0fb783a0d92a.jpg?v=1783692138","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/oxalis-regnellii","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}