Happy St. Patrick’s Day all! Whether Irish or not, we all know that the shamrock is a symbol for Ireland. The shamrock is really a large-leafed variety of white clover (Trifolium) that you can purchase in nurseries this time of year. White clover is grown as a cover crop in California. The low growing perennial blooms nearly year around in temperate climates.
I went looking for a white clover today to photograph. The closest thing I could find was a large-leafed wood-sorrel (Oxalis) that will soon be sporting pretty pink blooms. Now those of you who know me, know that I go after oxalis with a vengeance. See March Gardening. The yellow-flowered weed thrives in our area and will choke out less vigorous plants if not controlled. This pink-flowered variety of oxalis grows in the forest behind our property. It is more easily controlled than the yellow-flowered variety so it’s easy to appreciate its delicate beauty.
Do you grow clover or is it just naturally occurring?
Your comment somehow got lost and I just found it. Sorry. I have never planted clover. The pretty pink flowers with a shamrock shaped leaf are really oxalis and is not too invasive. But the yellow oxalis is a terribly invasive weed. We used to call it “sour grass” because the stems tasted like lemons.