Shamrocks and St. Patrick's Day

Not just for St. Patrick's Day

A shamrock's pretty leaves and delicate flowers make a perfect addition to your St. Patrick's Day décor, but they're also nice to have around all year, in your home or your garden. They should be kept at normal room temperature, fertilized once and month, watered sparingly (only when they need it) and grown in bright, indirect light.

Place small pots of shamrocks around the house for some Irish charm; give shamrocks in pretty pots to friends as parting gifts when they leave your St. Patrick's Day party, and they also make a unique hostess gifts.

Plant shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day for Irish charm year-round. >>

Other facts about shamrocks

Whether you're growing your own shamrocks or just wearing a plastic version to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, check out these fun shamrock facts.

• The chances of finding an elusive 4-leaf clover are 1 in 10,000.
• The plant most often referred to as the shamrock is the white clover.
• The leaves on a 4-leaf clover are said to represent love, hope, faith and luck.
• The shamrock is an official symbol of Ireland.
• The term shamrock is derived from the Irish word seamrog, which means "little clover."

More about St. Patrick's Day

How to celebrate St. Patrick's Day

St. Patty's Day eats and drinks

Decorating ideas for St. Patrick's Day