by Denise Calaman

Created on: April 13, 2009   Last Updated: October 21, 2010

The shamrock has been the most famous symbol of the Emerald Isle for centuries. The dainty, dark green plant is used worldwide as the emblem for many sports teams, pubs and restaurants, schools and many other types of businesses. It is even the insignia for Air Lingus, the national airline of Ireland. Most Americans equate shamrocks with St. Patrick's Day on March 17th but today very few people realize that the shamrock (Trifolium repens) is no more native to Ireland than wool sweaters or sheep farming.

It was in 1893 that the shamrock was first identified by botanist Nathanial Colgen as a white clover. The herbaceous plant with its trifoliate (having three leaflets) leaves is a native lawn weed in Ireland and most of the rest of the world; however, if the white clover or shamrock is planted in a garden and left to grow, it will grow into a vine and bloom beautiful, white trumpet like flowers. Its tiny leaves will also grow into bigger, beautiful leaves as well. 

The three leaves of the shamrock made it scared to the ancient Druids. The number three was considered mystical. Because the shamrock was considered mystical, the Druids also thought the shamrock to have medicinal properties. The ancient Celts thought the shamrock was scared as well as it symbolized the rebirth of spring. Even today the shamrock is believed to be a symbol of good luck, especially when a shamrock has four leaves. It then becomes known as a four leaf clover.

Many people have four leaf clovers pressed in books, laminated, or preserved in other ways as a portable good luck symbol that they carry with them all the time. In the 5th century St. Patrick used the shamrock and its three leaves to illustrate the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and to introduce Christianity to Ireland. The shamrock first was appeared in the English language in the late 1500's and was written as seamrog'. During the reign of Queen Victoria when Ireland so desperately was trying to keep its independence wearing a shamrock on a military uniform was thought of as an act of rebellion and it was a crime punishable by death.

Today the shamrock continues to be a popular Irish icon and in Ireland people still pin shamrocks to their lapels on St. Patrick's Day. The shamrock or white clover, as it may be labeled, can be found in garden centers across the United States and Canada during the growing season just in time for St. Patrick's Day when everyone seems to be a little bit Irish.

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