Oxalis triangularis is also called love plant or purple shamrock. It is a low growing, bulbous perennial characterized by scores of dark purple, triangular leaflets and fragile, tiny white blooms. The leaves, roots, and flowers of this plant are edible, with the spring-blooming flowers making especially beautiful salad garnishes. The plant has a clump-forming habit and rarely grows to heights of over 12 inches. A native of Brazil, purple shamrock might be planted outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 to 10, or indoors where it thrives as a houseplant as long as it receives ample lighting.
Choose a place with well draining soil for your purple shamrock. Plant them outside in sunlight or semi-light shade, but make certain indoor plants get bright light. Don’t choose an area that’s prone to flooding, as this will quickly rot your new bulbs.
Dig a shallow hole, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep. If planting multiple lights, distance holes a minimum of three inches apart.
Place one bulb in every hole. It doesn’t matter which control the bulb is confronting, it is going to grow regardless.
Water with a watering can or garden hose to saturate the soil without flooding it. Purple shamrock lights love moisture but will rot if allowed to sit in soil that is too wet.
Assess new bananas sometimes for common pests such as spider mites and leaf miners, which prey on new foliage. Sprouts appear in approximately 14 days, and flowers generally arrive in 8 to 10 weeks.