Oxalis

Shamrock, Wood Sorrel, False Shamrock

Message of the Flower

Candid Simplicity in the Vital

The Mother’s Comment

One of the most difficult qualities for the vital to acquire.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

As soon as all effort disappears from a manifestation, it becomes very simple, with the simplicity of a flower opening, manifesting its beauty and spreading its fragrance without clamour or vehement gesture. And in this simplicity lies the greatest power, the power which is least mixed and least gives rise to harmful reactions… Simplicity, simplicity! How sweet is the purity of Thy Presence!…

The Mother, Prayers and Meditations: February 12, 1913

Sri Aurobindo's answer is always the same: Be simple, be simple, very simple.

And I know what he means: to deny entry to regimenting, organising, prescriptive, judgmental thought—he wants none of all that. What he calls being simple is a joyous spontaneity; in action, in expression, in movement, in life—be simple, be simple, be simple. A joyous spontaneity.

The Mother, Mother's Agenda: September 16, 1961

Colour

Lavender pink to rose purple, light green, yellow

Family

Oxalidaceae

Cultivars

Atropurpurea'

Flower Size

1-2 cm across

Flower Texture

Delicate, sometimes velvety

Number of Petals

5

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

Some species have a mild fragrance

Leaf Texture

Smooth to slightly velvety

Leaf Arrangement

Most have trifoliate leaves

Leaf Color

Green, some like Oxalis triangularis have deep purple foliage

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous perennials

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Varies; spring, summer or throughout the season

Climate

Most prefer temperate, varies widely

Water Requirements

Moist but well-drained, drought-sensitive

Soil Type

Loamy, well-drained

Temperature Ranges

Depends on species; some frost tolerant, others need frost-free

Sun or Shade

Partial shade, tolerates full sun in cooler climates

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Rust, mildew, sometimes aphids

Pollinators

Bees, other small pollinators

Habitat

Woodlands, grasslands, rocky areas

Role in the Ecosystem

Nectar for pollinators, food for some wildlife

Quotations

Commonly referenced for heart-shaped leaves and sour taste

Ornamental

Popular for attractive foliage and flowers

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Natural remedies, culinary applications

Endangered Status

Not generally endangered, some species protected