Oxalis (Oxalis spp.), also called sorrel or shamrock, has a negative image if all you know of them are weedy, invasive cosmopolitan species. However, most of the about 800 species of oxalis are native plants in tropical South America and Africa or in temperate areas of the Old and New World. Many are used for landscaping or as houseplants. Oxalis are perennial plants but can give the appearance of annuals by going dormant in winter or during droughts. Frost-tender oxalis are sometimes treated as annuals in cold winter areas.
Oxalis can be grown indoors as a houseplant or outdoors in the garden. They from the garden center are generally available in the fall or early spring.
While many species of oxalis have beautiful blossoms, these plants are most commonly grown for their foliage. You can often find them in your local florist's shop around St. Patrick's Day as their leaves closely resemble shamrocks and they are often regarded as a sign of luck. These geometric-shape leaves, often triangular in shape, come in shades of purple, burgundy, pink, green, and silvery gray.
The plants bloom with small five-petal blossoms that have intricate details on the inner petals. These blossoms often begin as tubular flowers that twist open to show off dainty stripes and dark-color throats. They can be found in shades of pink and white, while other species feature yellow and orange blossoms. There are even species like Oxalis versicolor that have flowers that resemble peppermint candy: mostly white with an edge of red on the backside that creates a swirled look as the petals twist open.
How to care for it:
Light: Oxalis need bright indirect light to grow well and produce flowers. They can often bloom all winter if kept in a sunny spot.
Water: Keep the soil of a Oxalis barely moist but never soggy; allow the top 2 inches (5 cm) of soil to dry out before watering. It's best to water a Oxalis from the bottom so that the thin fragile stems of the plant don't get water logged and the soil stays loose.
Temperature: They grow best in cool temperatures between 60ºF to 70ºF (15ºC to 21ºC) during the day and 55ºF to 65ºF (13ºC to 18ºC) at night.
Soil: The soil for a Oxalis should be loose and sandy rather than rich and organic.
Fertilizer: Feed a Oxalis monthly when it is actively growing with a basic houseplant food at ½ the recommended strength. Never feed a Oxalis when it is dormant and the bulbs are resting.
Cold Hardiness
Some varieties of he plant are cold hardy in zones 6 and warmer. It depends on the variety though. Many varieties are frost tender and will not over winter, so they are treated as annuals.
To overwinter them, dig the bulbs up and grow them as indoor plants for the winter months and then replant again in spring.
Repotting
Because the oxalis is reasonably compact, repotting only needs to be done every few years. Perhaps when the plant has spread to all sides of the pot or you want it to become more bushy. In any case, a general all purpose compost will be absolutely fine as long as it has good drainage.
Propagation
Get more plants for free by dividing the clumps of bulbs below the soil. Most oxalis plants remain fairly compact and are unlikely to need division very often in the garden.
The plants also self seed so once you have a few growing, they will spread. (This can be a problem if the garden beds do not have edging for some types.)
Links:
Back to the Genus OXALIS.
Search Succulents by Family or if you prefer to search General Care
Browse succulents by Scientific Name,Common Name,Genus, Family,USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin,or cacti by Genus
Oxalis can be grown indoors as a houseplant or outdoors in the garden. They from the garden center are generally available in the fall or early spring.
While many species of oxalis have beautiful blossoms, these plants are most commonly grown for their foliage. You can often find them in your local florist's shop around St. Patrick's Day as their leaves closely resemble shamrocks and they are often regarded as a sign of luck. These geometric-shape leaves, often triangular in shape, come in shades of purple, burgundy, pink, green, and silvery gray.
The plants bloom with small five-petal blossoms that have intricate details on the inner petals. These blossoms often begin as tubular flowers that twist open to show off dainty stripes and dark-color throats. They can be found in shades of pink and white, while other species feature yellow and orange blossoms. There are even species like Oxalis versicolor that have flowers that resemble peppermint candy: mostly white with an edge of red on the backside that creates a swirled look as the petals twist open.
How to care for it:
Light: Oxalis need bright indirect light to grow well and produce flowers. They can often bloom all winter if kept in a sunny spot.
Water: Keep the soil of a Oxalis barely moist but never soggy; allow the top 2 inches (5 cm) of soil to dry out before watering. It's best to water a Oxalis from the bottom so that the thin fragile stems of the plant don't get water logged and the soil stays loose.
Temperature: They grow best in cool temperatures between 60ºF to 70ºF (15ºC to 21ºC) during the day and 55ºF to 65ºF (13ºC to 18ºC) at night.
Soil: The soil for a Oxalis should be loose and sandy rather than rich and organic.
Fertilizer: Feed a Oxalis monthly when it is actively growing with a basic houseplant food at ½ the recommended strength. Never feed a Oxalis when it is dormant and the bulbs are resting.
Cold Hardiness
Some varieties of he plant are cold hardy in zones 6 and warmer. It depends on the variety though. Many varieties are frost tender and will not over winter, so they are treated as annuals.
To overwinter them, dig the bulbs up and grow them as indoor plants for the winter months and then replant again in spring.
Repotting
Because the oxalis is reasonably compact, repotting only needs to be done every few years. Perhaps when the plant has spread to all sides of the pot or you want it to become more bushy. In any case, a general all purpose compost will be absolutely fine as long as it has good drainage.
Propagation
Get more plants for free by dividing the clumps of bulbs below the soil. Most oxalis plants remain fairly compact and are unlikely to need division very often in the garden.
The plants also self seed so once you have a few growing, they will spread. (This can be a problem if the garden beds do not have edging for some types.)
Links:
Back to the Genus OXALIS.
Search Succulents by Family or if you prefer to search General Care
Browse succulents by Scientific Name,Common Name,Genus, Family,USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin,or cacti by Genus
