Winter care: we are into the colder months. Protect newly planted or tender specimens from hard frosts, and hold off planting out until the frost risk has passed.
The Oxalis triangularis, better known as the purple false shamrock or love plant, is one of the most striking little tubers you can grow. Each leaf is made of three deep plum-purple triangular leaflets that fold shut like tiny butterflies at dusk and open wide to the light each morning, so the whole plant quietly breathes with the day. Through summer it lifts airy sprays of pale pink to lilac flowers above the foliage, a soft contrast against all that rich colour. It is a small piece of everyday magic for a gritty pot, a sunny sill or the front of a warm border.
Wonderfully versatile, it sits right on the border between houseplant and garden plant, so grow it whichever way suits your space. It loves bright light: give it the high light of a conservatory, greenhouse or a sunny windowsill indoors, or a bright, sheltered spot outdoors through the warmer months, and the purple only deepens. It is also refreshingly low effort. Frost tender and winter dormant, it simply rests below ground through the cold and bounces back each spring, so there is nothing to fuss over in the off season.
Native to Brazil, it grows from small tubers and rhizomes. 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 resting tubers nearly dry. Its long flowering and gentle, pollinator-friendly habit make it a lovely companion at the front of exotic borders and among our other exotic bulbs and tubers. For the darker, near-black form see Oxalis triangularis 'Mijke', or try the green, white-flowered Oxalis regnellii.
Whichever shamrock you choose, it earns its place in the wider hardy exotics range. 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.
Live Arrival Guarantee
All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.
Ordering in autumn or winter? Many hardy exotics arrive dormant or cut back right now. This is normal, and the best time to plant.
Seasonal by nature: what to expect
Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.
Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal.
Read what to expect through the seasons
Delivery and returns
See all delivery pricing tiers
Based on your basket total, confirmed at checkout. Free delivery: Economy over £60 · Standard over £100 · Express over £150.
Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.
Outdoor plants are sold by the size of their pot — measured in litres, with the pot diameter in cm.
A larger pot means a more established plant for quicker impact in the garden; a smaller pot is better value and
soon catches up once planted out.
9cm · 0.5L
Young plant
A young, vigorous plant and the most economical way to build up a planting. Give it a season or two and it will romp away.
~13cm · 1L
Starter
A well-rooted young plant, ready to grow on in a border or container. Great value for filling space over a season or two.
~15cm · 2L
Established
A bushier, more established plant with a developed root system — a dependable middle ground that suits most gardens.
~17cm · 3L
Garden ready
A strong, garden-ready plant that establishes quickly and makes a visible difference in its very first season.
~19cm · 5L
Instant impact
A larger, fuller specimen for immediate presence — ideal when you want the planted look straight away.
21cm+ · 7.5L+
Specimen
A mature, substantial specimen — the quickest route to an established, fully planted-up feel.
Pots that fit this plant
We recommend
How to care for Purple False Shamrock (Love Plant)
Plant me in full sun and protect me when hard frost threatens.
In their words
What our customers say
EP
Emily P.
Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.
JR
James R.
Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.
SL
Sophie L.
Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.
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About Purple False Shamrock (Love Plant)
Oxalis triangularis needs full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil. It is half-hardy to around −5°C and needs protection from hard frost.
RHS H3. In cold gardens simply lift the little tubers or move pots under cover for winter, keeping them dry and frost free until spring. See our what to expect guide for how tender exotics move through the seasons.
Position
Full sunPartial shadeEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingSheltered
sun to partial shade, with the richest purple developing in good light. Ideal for pots, patios and balconies, and happy in a little more shade in the hottest spots.
Soil
LoamSandWell-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH
light, sharply drained, gritty compost or soil that never stays soggy.
Watering
Water regularly through spring and summer while in leaf, letting the surface dry between drinks, then ease off as the foliage fades in autumn and keep the dormant tubers nearly dry.Read moreShow less
Water regularly through spring and summer while in leaf, letting the surface dry between drinks, then ease off as the foliage fades in autumn and keep the dormant tubers nearly dry.
Mature size
Height0.2-0.3 m
Spread0.2-0.3 m
Reaches full size in 1-2 years
Growth habit
Clump-forming
Flowering
JFMAMJJASOND
Jun-Sep · Pink
Seasonal colour
SpringSummerAutumnWinterFlowerFoliageBerriesStem
Foliage
Deciduous
Pruning
Remove faded leaves and spent flowers as they die back. It dies back and re-sprouts from its tubers, so lift or protect the tubers over winter in colder gardens.
Toxicity
No serious toxicity reported. Like other wood sorrels the foliage contains oxalic acid and is best not eaten in quantity by people or pets, but it is generally regarded as low risk.
Not fully hardy. The RHS rates the purple false shamrock H3, so it is frost tender and winter dormant. In a mild, sheltered, free-draining spot it can return each year, but in most gardens the safe route is to grow it in a pot you can move or lift the tubers before hard frost. Our what to expect guide explains how tender exotics behave through the seasons.
Why has my Oxalis triangularis lost its leaves in winter?
This is normal winter dormancy, not a dead plant. The leaves die back completely and the tubers rest underground through the colder months, then fresh purple leaflets reappear from the base in spring. Keep the dormant tubers nearly dry and frost free until then.
Can I grow purple false shamrock in a pot?
Yes, it is perfect for containers. Grow it in gritty, free-draining compost in a pot or patio container, water while it is in leaf and let the surface dry between drinks, then move it under cover for winter. A pot also makes it easy to lift and store the tubers frost free.
Does Oxalis triangularis prefer sun or shade?
Both work. It grows in sun to partial shade, but the richest purple colour develops in good light. In the hottest, driest spots a little afternoon shade stops the foliage scorching.
Is Oxalis triangularis poisonous to pets?
No serious toxicity is reported. Like other wood sorrels the leaves contain oxalic acid and are best not eaten in quantity by people, cats or dogs, but it is generally regarded as low risk.
How is it different from 'Mijke' and Oxalis regnellii?
They are close relatives. This is the classic purple species with deep plum leaflets and pale pink flowers. Oxalis triangularis 'Mijke' is a compact, near-black-purple selection, while Oxalis regnellii is the green-leaved, white-flowered form. All are grown and cared for in the same way.
Are your plants treated with pesticides?
We aim to avoid using pesticides where possible, but we can't control the whole supply chain.
If the plant is going into a vivarium, terrarium or aquarium with live animals, rinse the leaves and roots well, remove any soil and let the plant dry out before adding it. We'd also suggest keeping it away from animals for a month first.
Can I see a photo of the exact plant I'll receive?
We're not able to send photos of individual plants or let you choose a specific one, as plants are selected by our team when your order is packed. Our photos show the variety and the kind of plant you can expect, and yours may vary a little in height, shape or fullness.
If a size has a code next to it, such as 9cm / B2, you're buying the exact plant pictured.
Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.
It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.
If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.
If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.
That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.
Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.
When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.
We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.
Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.
It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.
Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.
Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.
During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.
That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 7 days with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.
The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Oxalis, commonly known as Wood Sorrel or the Shamrock Plant, is a diverse genus of plants with over 800 species found worldwide. Many popular houseplant varieties, such as Oxalis triangularis and Oxalis deppei, originate from South America, Africa, and part...
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