Ireland is a land of rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, and emerald fields of clover. Beautiful perennials and wildflowers bloom in the misty countryside. Patchworks of stone walls guard home gardens with lush leafy greens. 

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, you can get out into your garden and grow native Irish plants in your home. These plants are cold hardy and easy to grow. They put on showy foliage, lovely flowers, and sometimes delicious greens. 

These multi-colored bloomers thrive in shady environments. They are some of the first blooming perennials you can grow. In most of the U.S., you’ll get pops of color appearing in mid to late spring. In Oregon and Northern California, they appear in the late winter. 

These flowers have a long history in Ireland. The Celts considered them sacred and even used them in folk medicines. If you live in a cooler climate with plenty of shade, you can grow abundant primrose plants with little effort. 

Shamrock

Centuries of culture bloom through their iconic three-leaf shape.

Shamrocks hold a deep place in Irish folklore and culture. The ancient Celts considered their three-leaf structure sacred. In the 5th century, the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick, used them as symbols in his teachings. 

Many plants in the Oxalis genus could have been the original shamrock of Irish lore. The plants are actually wood sorrels and have clover-like three leaves and gorgeous green foliage. Most likely, the species Oxalis acetosella or the clover Trifolium dubium were the true species associated with the sacred Trinity Knot. 

Though Oxalis acetosella is the European native oxalis, the most popular plants sold as shamrocks around St. Patrick’s Day are Oxalis triangularis. These South American three-leaf plants bloom around the Irish patron saint’s holiday in spring. Even in Ireland, you’ll find South American wood sorrels sold around the holidays.

White Clover

Besides attracting bees and pollinators, clover offers the added benefit of nitrogen fixation.

There are many species of clovers growing in Ireland, however, the native Trifolium repens is the species most commonly associated with the legendary shamrocks of Irish and Celtic myths. This cover crop grows throughout the country, on boggy hillsides and fields.

Although they’re not as impressive as wood sorrels for their ornamental value, they are very important cover crops and stabilize the soil. They also add nitrogen to the soil like other legumes. Many clovers, such as red clovers, are edible. 

Clovers are easy to grow and cultivate in a variety of climates. They’ll stand up to full sun or shade. They are not picky when it comes to soil and can survive short periods of drought. Besides being easy to grow and useful, they’re probably the most symbolic plants you can find native to Ireland. 

Spring Squill

Clusters of delicate violet flowers add beauty to any landscape.

Spring squill is a common perennial bulbous plant native to the coasts of Ireland. It has beautiful clusters of star-shaped violet flowers and low-lying green foliage. Most of its growth occurs in spring, right around St. Patrick’s Day. 

If you can find its seeds or bulbs, this plant is an incredible ground cover and spring bloomer. It prefers well-drained soil and continuous watering. It’s considered pest-free and flourishes with relatively little maintenance. 

One of the best things about spring squill is its ability to attract pollinators. Grow it around your edible garden or in your yard to help create a thriving habitat. 

Foxgloves

Bell-shaped flowers add a whimsical touch to your landscape.

Foxgloves are colorful, tall, and ancient. They’re native to Europe and Ireland, where they’ve been cultivated for over 1,000 years. They have lovely yellow, pink, and white flowers that look like hanging bells and spiral-shaped leaves. 

These majestic plants are also known as witches’ fingers or fairy gloves. They’ll bring an otherworldly aesthetic to your garden. If you live in zones 4 through 9, they’ll thrive as perennials. 

Grow these colorful Irish flowers in slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Give them consistent watering and keep the soil from becoming soggy. Depending on the varieties, you’ll get blooms in spring, summer, or early fall. Be careful when touching them because they are poisonous. 

Blackberries

Enjoy fresh fruit with minimal maintenance in any climate.

Blackberries and other brambles, particularly Rubus fruticosus, are native to Ireland and grow thick patches of dense, thorny foliage around castles and stone fences. Since ancient times, these nutritious fruits have been staple crops. Today, they’re some of the world’s most popular fruits and a must in most gardens. 

Grow them as hedges or natural fences. Thornless varieties are easy to train and harvest, while throoned varieties provide excellent protection around home perimeters. 

Brambles need very little maintenance and thrive in a variety of climates, from the Southeast to the Midwest and Northwest. They grow well in a variety of soils and attract all kinds of beneficial pollinators. 

Heath-Spotted Orchid 

Bright orange flowers add color and cheer to gardens.

Ireland has 31 species of native orchids. The heath-spotted orchid is particularly common in the countryside. This terrestrial species blooms from May through August. Its flowers are brilliant pink, pale purple, and white with adorable spots decorating the petals. 

This Irish orchid species loves acidic soils and garden beds. It grows easily and requires very little maintenance, especially compared to other orchid varieties. The plants will die back in autumn and go dormant. The following spring, you’ll see this native Irish flower return.

Yarrow

This low-maintenance flower brings beauty and life to gardens.

Yarrow is one of my favorite flowers native to Ireland and the rest of Europe. It’s an easy-to-grow herbaceous perennial that attracts tons of helpful pollinators. Plant this cold-hardy flower and you’ll get swarms of bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies feeding on its nectar. 

In Ireland, the flower is called Athair thalún, which means ‘Father of the Earth’. It has vibrant, multicolored flowers that give off a lovely, sweet scent. Each flower contains hundreds of colorful florets that dance in the breeze. 

You can grow yarrow in almost every climate zone in the U.S., from Florida to the northern coast of Alaska. It’s remarkably low-maintenance.

Roman Chamomile

Sweet-smelling flowers are perfect for a relaxing tea time.

Roman chamomile is one of the oldest medicinal plants native to Ireland and Western Europe. People have been using its fragrant blossoms to make soothing teas for millennia. From the ancient Egyptians to the Celts of Ireland, this delicious and healthy tea was beloved by the ancients. 

Today, it’s one of the world’s most cherished plants and teas. It’s easy to grow in a variety of climates throughout the US. Once established, it grows as a self-seeding herbaceous annual that returns each spring. 

Harvest the flowers to make chamomile tea. Pair it with some Oscar Wilde poetry, James Joyce novels, or Irish folk music. 

English Daisy

It’s easy to grow and always a delightful sight.

Contrary to their name, English daisy plants are also native to Ireland. They’re some of the most adorable small perennials you can grow. Some gardeners treat these little flowers as annuals but if you live in zones 4 through 8, they’ll return year after year. 

English daisies have small flowers that can be blue, white, pink, and yellow. They’re easy to grow and maintain and thrive in a variety of soils. They’ll attract plenty of wonderful pollinators. 

In Ireland, these small flowers grow wild on hills and meadows. When they bloom, they cover the boggy hills in waves of color. 

Common Nettle

This flower grows quickly, bringing bright blooms by summer.

The common nettle Urtica dioica is a spectacular native Irish plant. Although it produces stinging hairs, it’s valued for its edible foliage which packs tons of nutrients and flavor. When I was a teenager, I experienced my first nettle stings while hiking in the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin. 

Although it’s considered a weed, many people harvest the plant for food. Its boiled leaves and stems make excellent tea and soup stock. 

Grow this native Irish herb at home, but be careful when handling it. Use gardener’s gloves to harvest its leaves and boil them before eating. You can find many recipes from Irish folklore that call for boiled nettles and nettle tea.