Scientific Name
Oxalis adenophylla Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.
Common Name(s)
Chilean Oxalis, Chilean Wood Sorrel, Sauer Klee, Sauer Klee Oxalis, Silver Shamrock
Synonym(s)
Acetosella adenophylla, Acetosella bustillosii, Oxalis adenophylla, Oxalis bustillosii, Oxalis bustillosii subsp. biflora, Oxalis bustillosii var. biflora
Scientific Classification
Family: Oxalidaceae
Genus: Oxalis
Origin
This species is native to Argentina and Chile. It occurs in the alpine regions at elevations from 3,280 to 8,530 feet (1,000 to 2,600 m), growing on talus slopes.
Description
Oxalis adenophylla is a bulbous plant that from a clump of grayish-green leaves composed of 9 to 20 narrow heart-shaped leaflets folded in half. It grows up to 4.8 inches (12 cm) tall and up to 6 inches (15 cm) across. Leaves take on a pink or purple hue in full sun. The solitary flowers are white, flushed pink to purple toward the tips of the petals, adorned with dark veins, and with a maroon throat. They are up to 1.6 inches (4 cm) across and appear above the foliage in late spring.
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 soil to dry 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 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.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Oxalis.
Cultivars
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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