Shamrock (seamrog), the emblem synonomous with St Patrick has a long and colourful history. It means many different things to different people and can evoke messages relating to national pride, religion, celebration etc. In horticultural terms what is shamrock and why do we wear it on St Patricks day. Shamrock can be found growing wild throughout Ireland and is worn on the feast day of St Patrick. It is said that St Patrick used the three leaved shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to the pagan Irish during the 5th Century. The tradition of wearing a shamrock was used as an emblem by the Irish Volunteers in the era of Grattan's Parliament in the 1770's, before '98 and The Act of Union.

So rebellious did the wearing of the Shamrock eventually appear, that in Queen Victoria's time Irish regiments were forbidden to display it. At that time it became the custom for civilians to wear a little paper cross coloured red and green. As a symbol of Ireland it has long been integrated into the symbol of the United Kingdom, along with the Rose, the Thistle and the Leek of England, Scotland and Wales. So today, on St. Patrick's Day, a member of the British Royal Family presents Shamrock to the Irish Guards regiment of the British Army.

Irish research in the late 1980’s highlighted a number of plants that were traditionally considered to be Shamrock. The plant most widely considered to be shamrock was Trifolium dubium (the lesser clover, seamair bhui), other plants that were used as Shamrock included, Trifolium repens (white clover, seamair bhui), Trifolium pratense (red clover, seamair dhearg) and oxalis acetosella(wood sorrel, seamog).
Shamrock is grown commercially to meet the domestic and international demands for wearing a spring of the three leafed clover during the St patrick day festivities. It is grown from seed and can be cultivated in pots, open ground or in a special water retaining gel. Water your potted and gel shamrock to maintain freshness. Sprig shamrock can be placed in water or moistened and kept in a cool location for best freshness.

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