Jon and I bought this planter head in Province Town a few years ago. I’ve always had a hard time figuring out what kind of plant to put in it. I think I finally figured it out.
The plant (I can’t remember the name of it, it has little white flowers) is growing well and looks just right. It will also continue to grow when we bring it in for the winter.
That’s Flo snoozing on Ed Gulley’s bench in the background.
It’s hard to tell from the angle, but it looks like your head plant is oxalis. It really is the perfect choice!
Someone else said the same Gemma, so I think that’s what it is. Thanks!
Purple ones are shamrocks, I have those thanks to a neighbor who came from a long line of Irish folks. He died a few years ago, but his shamrocks live on, and they have small pink flowers–the green ones, he gave me those, too, have small white flowers. I don’t know the trailing green plant.
Thanks Melissa. I love to get all the different names of flowers. Now I remember seeing these flowers in the markets during St Patricks day. I can even see the green plastic shamrock that is stuck in the plant to make it a St Patricks day gift.
When you wrote that you like the name of flowers, it suddenly struck me, why on earth would someone choose the name of “shamrock” for these? A fake (sham) rock? That seems unlikely. I’ll have to research that. : )
I also like shamrocks because they fold up in the evening (and when they need watering). It always seems such an odd but endearing trait in a plant.
Well, it’s like they’re talking to us Melissa, if we can understand their language. And I see that I’ve done that intuitively, when I saw the folded leaves this afternoon, I thought to give the plant more water.
You’re welcome, I love words and it’s fun to learn the original meanings of all sorts of words. They do tell us when they need water, when they fold up, but that’s also saying “I’m asleep” as my neighbor used to tell me, they fold up in the evenings and unfold in the mornings again. Mine are houseplants in pots inside, though I’ve also had them outside sometimes.
Melissa, I’m going to enjoy seeing the be so active especially in the winter, when the plant is inside. it will bring some life to the cold and dark of winter.
I looked it up:
A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity.[1] The name shamrock comes from Irish seamróg [ˈʃamˠɾˠoːɡ], which is the diminutive of the Irish word for plant (seamair) and means simply “little plant” or “young plant”.[2]
Shamrock usually refers to either the species Trifolium dubium (lesser clover, Irish: seamair bhuí)[3] or Trifolium repens (white clover, Irish: seamair bhán). However, other three-leaved plants—such as Medicago lupulina, Trifolium pratense, and Oxalis acetosella—are sometimes called shamrocks. The shamrock was traditionally used for its medicinal properties[citation needed] and was a popular motif in Victorian times.
Wow Melissa. I love all of this. Thanks so much for your research!
I know, winter is hard on me, too, we have a long one here in NW Missouri. I have several shamrock plants, both green ones and these purple ones, and I need to divide more of mine. I wish we lived closer so I could share some of mine with you. Enjoy–nature is interesting. And I just had a visit from a longed-for Monarch butterfly as I was watering this morning (we are in severe drought, alas). I love Monarchs for themselves and also for the reminder of my Mom, who loved them and taught their life cycle, with the actual creatures, to her 3rd grade classes for many years.
it would be great to share our plants Melissa. I’ll just have to do with it my neighbors here and think of you. Lovely to see the Monarchs. I see a lot of them here, probably because of the many open pastures and the plants that grow in them.
That sounds like the way to do it. Lots of folks enjoy sharing their plants and seeds. Enjoy your garden and the butterflies and bees.
you enjoy your garden too Melissa!