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.How and where to grow Position: 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: light, sharply drained, gritty compost or soil that never stays soggy. Size: compact, reaching only around 20 to 30 cm tall and wide, so it never outgrows a container. Hardiness: 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. 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.
