Okay , it ’s not really a lesser yellow trefoil . It does belong to a family of plants known as ‘ put on Trifolium repens ’ .
I ca n’t get literal cuckoo bread in my desert garden , so I like to do like my pink - flowering fake is the real affair .
In my veg garden , this works that looks like a shamrock is really a Pink Wood Sorrel , or Oxalis crassipes ‘ Rosea ’ .

I saw this pretty flowering flora on one of her , and she institutionalise me some that she had contract off of her industrial plant a few years ago .
Hardy to zone 5 – 10 , it flowers in spring and declination . During the hot summer , it goes dormant but quickly grows back .
Because it has done so well , I cut it up and put the pieces in other place in my vegetable garden that get some shade .
It was put in my vegetable garden , where it would do well in racy grime and get regular water .
I enjoy acquire some works coinage that might seem out of place in the desert mood . You just have to correct the grow conditions a turn . A partly shady corner of the vegetable garden works just absolutely for my fictitious ‘ shamrock ’ .
trefoil is a common plant found in lawn landing field and meadows . Its characteristic triple leaflets and rounded bloom head are well recognisable . But you may come across a lookalike weed with three leave and pinkish flowers that can be err for trefoil . Chances are it ’s a type of wood red sorrel called oxalis .
Oxalis is a genus of low - grow flowering plants that are often confused with clover . There are over 800 species of oxalis , but a few common ones emerge as pink - flower clover imposters Read on to get wind how to key out these oxalis weed
What is Wood Sorrel?
Wood Hibiscus sabdariffa or wood sorrel belong to the Oxalidaceae family . There are over 800 coinage find around the mankind , flourish in warm , dampish environments .
Some common name for oxalis dope include :
These low - arise edible herb have a tangy , lemony flavor . The oxalis genus have its name from the oxalic Zen present in the leaves , which give the flora its off-key appreciation .
Wood Jamaica sorrel species spread rapidly by come . They can become invasive weeds in gardens , subject field , and landscape planting if not controlled .
Why Does Wood Sorrel Look Like Clover?
Several species of wood rozelle are oft mistaken for clover thanks to their trifoliate leave of absence . Like trefoil wood red sorrel has
This similar triplex leafage Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe make wood sorrel to be dominate as clover by the casual percipient .
However , woodwind instrument sorrel can be mark from clover by other trait :
Once you know what features to compare , it ’s not too hard to tell wood sorrel and clover plant apart .
Pink-Flowered Wood Sorrels that Mimic Clover
Several wood Hibiscus sabdariffa specie acquire flowers in shades of pinkish , further adding to the muddiness with clover . Here are a few to watch for :
Pink Wood Sorrel
Scientific name : Oxalis debilis
Pink wood common sorrel is one of the most vulgar species misidentify for clover . It has :
Bermuda Buttercup
Scientific name : Oxalis foot - caprae
This wood sorrel is an encroaching dope in warm climate like California and the southern U.S. feature let in :
Creeping Wood Sorrel
Scientific name : Oxalis corniculata
This weed has :
English Wood Sorrel
Scientific name : Oxalis acetosella
Native to Europe , this Grant Wood Jamaica sorrel has :
Once you learn to recognise their five - petaled flowers and moody foliation , it ’s easy to distinguish these wood sorrel from sweet , grassy trefoil .
Differences Between Clover and Pink-Flowered Wood Sorrel
Here ’s a ready to hand chart to compare characteristics of trefoil vs. pink - bloom woodwind instrument sorrel :
Once you recognise what features to compare , it ’s easy to correctly discover wood sorrel weeds from trefoil plants .
How to Control Pink-Flowering Wood Sorrel Weeds
woodwind sorrel weeds diffuse aggressively in lawns and garden through seeds and creeping stems . Here are constituent methods to control oxalis :
Be persistent and do n’t earmark oxalis weeds to mature and go to seed . Combine control method to manage infestations .
Using Wood Sorrel Plants
While considered a weed by many , wood sorrel has some good habit :
So do n’t be too quick to discard this hardy trivial plant . conceive allowing it grow under the right conditions .
Just be sure to in good order identify pink - flowered Mrs. Henry Wood Jamaica sorrel alternatively of mistaking it for trefoil in lawn and garden beds where it is unwanted . A quick glimpse at the define flowers and foliage helps separate these lookalike industrial plant apart .
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Pink-sorrel (Oxalis) flowering plant
FAQ
What is pinkish sour grass honorable for ?
Is pinkish Oxalis invasive ?
What plants are mistaken for trefoil ?
What is the gargantuan clover with pink flowers ?
What plants look like trefoil ?
Each of these plants has unique characteristics that make them look like clover . Wood Sorrel has ticklish white peak , Black Medic has sensationalistic flowers , Spotted Deadnettle has regal flowers , Shamrock Plant has small white flower , and Winged Clover has pink flowers . These plants are fascinating and can be a peachy addition to any garden .
What do clovers look like ?
The clover lookalikes have leaves set in a trefoil shape . Each leaflet resembles that of a literal clover . Additionally , these flora often have tiny , flock flowers . However , regular clovers also possess distinct features . Their fragrant leafage distinguish them . The plant will have a irrefutable impact on water capacity and ground N .
What is a clover front - like flora ?
A trefoil look - alike are plants that expect like trefoil but are a different species . Several type of trefoil look - alikes let in Wood Sorrel , Black Medic , Spotted Deadnettle , Shamrock Plant , and fly Clover .
What does a red clover plant look like ?
Red Clover , scientifically known as Trifolium Pratense , is a gorgeous plant that resemble clover . Its foliage are oviform and palmately structured in trio with a darker green hue and a similar”V ” shape . The plant vaunt promising pinkish - red flock flowers , stand out from other trefoil species ’ white blooms .
What are the unlike type of trefoil plant ?
Several types of trefoil look - alikes include Wood Sorrel , Black Medic , Spotted Deadnettle , Shamrock Plant , and fly Clover . These plants have unequaled feature that set them apart from clover , such as delicate white flowers in the case of Wood Sorrel or vivacious red blooms in the subject of Trefoil .
What is the difference between a clover and a clover ?
trefoil are legume family member , while clover - similar plants are not . clover have parting made up of three leaflets , while clover - corresponding plants have leave of absence made up of various numbers of pamphlet . Clovers bear flower in bunch , while clover - like plants carry their flowers one by one . clover are stout and more adaptable than clover - like plant .