A Pollinator-Friendly Accent Plant with Movement & Colour

Oxalis Triangularis, often known as Purple Shamrock or False Shamrock, is a striking ornamental perennial grown from small corms and valued for its supporting role in biodiversity-minded planting. While not native to Ireland, it offers accessible nectar through its open, bell-shaped flowers and an exceptionally long flowering window, making it a useful companion plant in gardens where diversity of forage and structure matters.

Its deep purple, triangular leaves form a dramatic backdrop for other plants, while soft lavender-pink flowers appear intermittently from late spring through to autumn. These blooms are readily visited by small bees and flying insects, particularly in sheltered gardens, patios and urban spaces where nectar sources can be limited.

One of its most enchanting features is its daily movement: the leaves gently fold at night and reopen with daylight, responding to light levels and adding a sense of rhythm and life to planted spaces.

Why We’ve Chosen Oxalis Triangularis

• Extended Forage Window – Flowers intermittently from late spring to autumn, offering nectar over a long season.

• Accessible Flower Form – Open, shallow blooms suited to smaller pollinators and beneficial insects.

• Ideal for Small Spaces – Performs well in containers, courtyards and balconies where every nectar source counts.

• Low-Input & Resilient – Easy to grow from corms, requiring minimal care and no chemical inputs.

• Seasonal Diversity – Adds contrast in colour, texture and flowering time to pollinator-friendly planting schemes.

Biodiversity-Led Growing Tips

Plant in spring in well-drained soil or containers. Choose a bright spot with light shade—particularly from strong midday sun. Oxalis performs well both indoors and outdoors during the growing season, making it especially useful for urban and small-garden biodiversity.

If foliage dies back, don’t worry—this is part of its natural cycle. Cut back to soil level and allow it to rest; fresh growth will reappear with improved conditions.

Did you know?
In gardens with limited space, container plants like Oxalis can play an important role in supporting insects by extending flowering periods and increasing plant diversity—especially when combined with native and pollinator-rich species.

Product Details

• Pack Size: Bag of 10 corms

• Flower Colour: Pale lavender-pink

• Flower Size: Approx. 2 cm wide

• Planting Time: Spring

• Flowering Period: Intermittently from late spring to autumn

• Mature Height: 15–25 cm

• Spacing: 10–15 cm apart

• Corm Size: 4–5 cm

• Planting Depth: 3–5 cm deep, blunt end down

Please note: Do not ingest ornamental bulbs. May be harmful to pets and livestock. We recommend wearing gloves when planting, as some bulbs can cause skin irritation.

Chosen for its long flowering season, low inputs and suitability for small spaces, Oxalis triangularis is a beautiful, biodiversity-supporting addition to pollinator-aware gardens and containers.

Use a Dibber for planting bulbs.