Other Names:  False Shamrock, syn. Xanthoxalis vulcanicola

Description:

A tender perennial that creates a low, mounding mat of rusty red to plum purple shamrock-like foliage, variegated with bright pink; bright yellow flowers in spring and early summer, or year-round in mild climates; outstanding in the garden or containers

Ornamental Features

Plum Crazy Volcanic Sorrel features dainty yellow star-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from early spring to early summer. Its attractive glossy fan-shaped leaves remain burgundy in color with distinctive plum purple spots and tinges of hot pink throughout the year. The dark red stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Plum Crazy Volcanic Sorrel is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a mounded form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Plum Crazy Volcanic Sorrel is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Plum Crazy Volcanic Sorrel will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 24 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. You may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Plum Crazy Volcanic Sorrel is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.