Oxalis Adenophylla (Silver Shamrock)

Oxalis adenophylla, often affectionately known as "Silver Shamrock" or “Sauer Klee” (Sour Clover), is a small but striking addition to your garden, offering charm that belies its diminutive size. This perennial bulb produces low, spreading mounds of delicate, silvery-green, fern-like foliage, which remains attractive throughout the growing season. In spring to early summer, it bursts into bloom with exquisite pale pink to soft lilac flowers, each adorned with darker veining and a glowing white throat – a design as if painted by hand.

Growing to a height of just 8-12 cm (3-5 inches), Sauer Klee is a perfect choice for rock gardens, edging paths, or planting in patio containers where its intricate beauty can be admired up close. It’s also ideal for gravel gardens and other well-draining spots where its subtle foliage and vibrant blooms can shine.

A Rare Detail:
What sets Oxalis adenophylla Silver Shamrock apart is its extraordinary resilience and adaptability. Despite its delicate appearance, this oxalis is remarkably cold-hardy (down to -15°C or lower with good drainage), making it an excellent choice for UK gardeners in cooler regions. Its bulbs have an almost star-like form and are uniquely shaped to anchor themselves in sandy or stony soils, a natural adaptation from its South American origins in Chile and Argentina.

Another rarely mentioned feature is its ability to thrive in alkaline to neutral soils, a trait that makes it versatile for various planting conditions. Over time, it naturalises gently, forming small, tidy clusters that return reliably year after year without taking over.

Botanical name: Oxalis adenophylla
Common name: Sauer Klee - Chilean Oxalis - Silver Shamrock
Flower colour: Pale pink to soft lilac with darker veining and a white throat
Established height: 8-12 cm
Established spread: 10-15 cm
Plant spacing: 50-75 bulbs per m²
Leaf colour: Silvery-green, fern-like
Habit: Clump-forming · Spreading gradually
Life cycle: Perennial · Naturalising
Hardiness: Very cold-hardy, tolerates down to -15°C
Years to establish: 1-2 years
Sunlight: Full sun · Partial shade
Position: Well-drained spots · Sheltered
Suitable for: Rock gardens · Gravel gardens · Patio containers · Path edging · Low-maintenance planting schemes
Soil acidity: Neutral to alkaline
Soil moisture: Free draining
Soil type: Sandy · Stony · Gravelly · Loam
Growing skill: Easy to grow
Scented: No
Pollinator-friendly: Yes
Mouse resistant: No
Rabbit resistant: No
Deer resistant: Yes
Toxicity: Non-toxic
Blooming time: Late spring to early summer
Dispatch: In spring
We ship from: London