Our Scoop on Shamrocks

~ Gardening Committee ~

Interestingly enough, last week while browsing through a garden center, a member was looking at some potted shamrocks and debated on whether or not to buy one, but since she really didn't know much about them, decided not to at the time. She didn't think it possible to say the word "Shamrock" without thinking of Ireland, or vice versa. After all, it's one of Ireland's chosen emblems.

The history of the Shamrock is thousands of years in the making from before 200 BC to around 1571 when first actual reference to it could be found and in written Irish Gaelic as Seamrog from around 1707. Images of this plant can be found on Irish medieval tombs, old copper coins and was often regarded as having mystic properties. It was a plant held sacred, prior to the introduction of Christianity, by the Druids and associated with the Goddess Brigid. It is symbolic of the trefoil in Arabia wherein it is called "Shamrakh" and was a sacred emblem of the Persian triads to name but a few of its associations.

In every instance the focus falls to the leaves of this plant which are three in number (trefoil) and being more associated with Ireland than any other country it is worthy to note that this is the "magic" number of everything good coming in threes. It plays a prestigious role in Celtic symbolism and most certainly when listening to Traditional Irish Storytellers one may be able to pick up the threefold repetition throughout the saga being shared.

Another member shared information regarding the history of the Shamrock in relationship to St. Patrick she had learned from attending a Prayer Luncheon most recently. "To illustrate the trinity to the Irish people he (St. Patrick) used a Shamrock and he used each leaf to illustrate the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".

In Ireland the "Shamrock" derives from the Irish Gaelic word seamrog or seamair og, which basically translates into English as "little clover". Rather vague, considering that there are many kinds of clovers and even more plants that can pass as clovers to the layman. However it is said that the original Irish Shamrock refers to the white Clover, (Trifolium repens) while the official Irish Shamrock (Trifolium dubium) is a yellow-flowered clover that is extremely difficult to grow indoors and yet in actuality there is no "real McCoy" that can claim to be the authoritative Shamrock.

         

Even among the denizens of Ireland itself, there is no consensus that dubs one particular plant as the true Irish Shamrocks, as Tippitiwitchet Cottage reports in a 1988 survey concerning Shamrocks. The survey, conducted at the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin, revealed that when the Irish wear the "Shamrock," it can be any one of four plants. Three of the plants are clovers, while the fourth is a clover-like plant known as "Medick."

In doing a little sleuthing on them, we discovered something not known very quickly, and that is they can either be a bulb, or tuberous root plant and as such, like many others, they need some resting time, or dormancy time, in order to grow to their best potential. "Shamrocks" that are available by retailers and florists around March 17 are actually Oxalis plants (wood sorrel) that are easily adapted to growing indoors.

        

The Shamrock oxalis can be moved outdoors for the summer in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 or 9. They need bright light (not full sun) and moist, well drained soil. The majority of them will not do well outdoors over the winter. They can be dug up and brought inside but they do not fair well indoors unless they are the bulbous variety.

Indoors when leaves of your "Shamrock" begin to turn brown, stop watering, remove the brown leaves, and place the pot in an area that is cool and dry for two or three months. They may need this twice a year. After they've had a chance to rest begin watering again and place them where they can receive some bright, but indirect sunlight. They'll also need a spot that remains relatively cool and the soil should be kept moist, but not overly wet.

         

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