False shamrock Oxalis triangularis

What makes this plant so popular is its beautiful dark purple leaves. For my part, I think it looks like a flock of butterflies – in shades of dark brown to burgundy – hence its other common name: butterfly sorrel. The leaves are sensitive to light conditions. They open up in the morning and close again when the sun goes down in the evening. The false shamrock is also a fantastic herb. It’s reminiscent in flavour of the better-known wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), also a relative, and it has recently acquired a natural place in modern Nordic cuisine. It has a fresh and acidic taste, like a mixture of lemon and clover. Because the leaves contain oxalic acid, it’s not recommended to be eaten in large quantities, especially if you have rheumatism or other inflammatory disorders. Note that it is toxic to pets.

LIGHT

False shamrock needs good light conditions in order to stay healthy and vigorous. You can put it outdoors in the summer, but avoid direct sunlight.

WATERING

It likes fairly moist soil, but make sure that the top layer of soil (a few centimetres/about 1in) dries out between each watering. The false shamrock is very forgiving, so if you do forget it and the plant looks dead, watering will revive the roots and new shoots will emerge.

SOIL

Use ordinary potting compost with a layer of leca balls in the bottom. You can also mix a few leca balls into the compost to ensure good drainage.

FEEDING

Feed with liquid organic plant food once a month during spring and summer. Give it little or no food during the winter months and also for the first few months after repotting.

ORIGIN

It is native to tropical regions in Brazil and neighbouring countries in South America.

MISCELLANEOUS

It likes to be repotted annually to stimulate growth. It’s particularly rich in vitamin C and used to be eaten by sailors to prevent scurvy.