Oxalis

Family: Oxalidaceae
Popular name: Wood sorrel

Origin: Middle/South America

Flower colour: pink, except O. regnellii which is white.

Flowering period: entire summer

Average plant height: 10 – 30 cm

Planting depth to base of bulbs:5 cm

Spacing between bulbs: 5 cm

Type of bulb: (depending on the variety) bulb, tuber, rhizome, and O. regnellii is a rootstock.

Light requirements: warm and sunny to 25% shade

Landscape uses: border, beds, rock garden and pots.

With oxalis again we can divide the family into two groups: winter hardy and not winter hardy. Those that are not winter hardy are: O. deppei, O. lasiandra and O. regnellii. The petals of the flowers open wide when the sun is shining, and close in the dark. The leaves are clover-like.

There are over 800 different species, as garden plants as well as noxious weeds.

Principal varieties

  • Oxalis deppei (lucky clover) – pink-red 
  • Oxalis deppei ‘Iron Cross’ – black-brown color at the base of the 
  • four leaflets. 
  • Oxalis lasiandra – pink 
  • Oxalis regnellii – white