Scientific Name
Oxalis adenophylla 'Purple Heart'
Scientific Classification
Family: Oxalidaceae
Genus: Oxalis
Description
Oxalis adenophylla 'Purple Heart' is a bulbous plant that forms a clump of fleshy, glaucous green leaves composed of 9 to 20 narrow, heart-shaped leaflets with a purple base and folded in half. It grows up to 4.8 inches (12 cm) tall and up to 6 inches (15 cm) across.
The solitary flowers are pink to purple toward the tips of the petals, adorned with dark veins, and with a greenish-shaded throat. They are up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) across and appear above the foliage in late spring.
Origin
Oxalis adenophylla 'Purple Heart' is a cultivar of Oxalis adenophylla.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 7a to 9b: from 0 °F (−17.8 °C) to 30 °F (−1.1 °C).
How to Grow and Care
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.
These plants need bright indirect light to grow well and produce flowers. They can often bloom all winter if kept in a sunny spot. Keep the soil barely moist but never soggy. Allow the top 2 inches (5 cm) of the soil to dry out before watering. It is best to water your Oxalis from the bottom so that the thin, fragile stems of the plant don't get waterlogged and the soil stays loose. Oxalis plants grow best in cool temperatures between 60 to 70 ºF (15 to 21 ºC) during the day and 55 to 65 ºF (13 to 18 ºC) at night. The soil should be loose and sandy rather than rich and organic. Feed your plant monthly when it is actively growing with a basic houseplant food at 1/2 the recommended strength. Never feed an Oxalis when it is dormant, and the bulbs are resting.
To propagate Oxalis, simply split the plant into smaller plants and place them in their own pots. Keep it out of direct sunlight until new shoots appear.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Oxalis.
Links
- Back to genus Oxalis
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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