Of all the colors that stand out in the garden , I conceive chartreuse is one of the most noteworthy .
Wood common sorrel , though often a modest citizen , will dependably go around lime green delight throughout the garden . The pollyannaish flowers in lily-white , yellow , pink , and purpleness are practically an aside .
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Oxalisis a engrossing genus . It has some jolly interesting gadget characteristic , like the fact that the seeds of these plants are violently ejected once they ’re ripe , via a mechanism bonk as explosive dehiscence .
They also expose nyctinasty . Most gardeners are conversant with this behavior in theprayer plant(Marantaceae ) . It ’s when the leaves of a plant close down up at nighttime or on cloudy days .
Oxalisspecies all have a generally similar appearance , with triangular leaves in mathematical group of three , tuberous roots , and five - petaled prime . But within the genus there is quite a range of characteristics .
Some plants never grow more than four column inch tall and others reach two feet . Flowers can be little and lilac or magnanimous and chickenhearted .
The leaves are usually lime green , but you could find some in the deep shades of purpleness , or a diversification of the two as well . There is even a specie produce exclusively for its eatable ascendant .
quick to learn about some of the best of these underappreciated flora ? Here are the mintage we ’ll talk about in this roundup :
13 of the Best Oxalis Species
Of naturally , there are far more mintage than what we ’re cover here . All recount , there are over 500 wood sorrels , sourgrasses , and false shamrocks , as these plant are often called .
The ones described below are just some of the best for cultivation in North American garden .
speak of , be aware that location is everything when it comes toOxalis . A mintage that will be perfectly mild mannered and welcome in one expanse can be a right-down nuisance in another .
Without further flurry , let ’s talk about these plants .
1. Acetosella
Common wood sorrel ( O. acetosella ) is just that : vulgar . It grows uncivilised all over the piazza in the Northern Hemisphere from Russia throughout Europe and across North America .
In the US it does best in USDA Growing Zones 3 to 7 , in full nicety to full sun .
It has petite clover - comparable leave with three heart - shaped leaflets that are creased down the center . As with other plants in the genus , the leaves fold up at Nox , along with the flower .
This species is often used as a cuckoo bread during the St. Patrick ’s holiday and it ’s also eaten in the many regions where it grows wild .
arrive at a mature height of only about four inches tall , O. acetosellacan spread quickly , making it an ideal ground cover . It can even withstand some foot dealings , so you may use it as a lawn replacement or found it between pavers .
The spring efflorescence are typically white with faint pinkish streaks , but the flowers are sometimes fully pink instead .
2. Articulata
Pink wood sorrel ( O. articulata ) is the belle of theOxalisball .
The burnished pink , relatively big flowers blanket the works for a good part of the leap and summer . Each peak is three - one-quarter of an inch in diameter and there are hatful of them .
The works only grow to about 10 column inch , so it makes a perfect land cover in full sunlight or part nuance areas .
While it ’s a vigorous cultivator , it does n’t become invasive in most locations , though it has domesticate in parts of California . It grows best in Zones 6 to 11 .
Therubrasubspecies is nearly monovular except that it has reddish - pink flowers .
3. Corniculata
I was kindly invited one time to savor a holiday meal with a family from south India and they shared sour fish curry made with creeping wood Jamaica sorrel ( O. corniculata)that I still dream about . It was spicy , nipping , citrusy magic .
Obviously , you’re able to make sour fish curry without wood dock , but I ’ve never been able-bodied to ( closely ) hearten the perfect combination of flavors without it .
In Italy , creeping wood dock is made into a citrusy drink by boil the leaves , strain , cool down the liquid , and add sugar and ice .
The green are n’t nearly as pop in North America as they are in other parts of the Earth and they ’re only available in stores for part of the year , so buy yourself a plant and develop some in your own garden rather !
fawn forest sorrel has a more sour and citrusy smell than many other type .
Even if you do n’t mean to consume it , the jaundiced flower and trio of nub - shaped leaflet are a dainty summation to the garden . The imperial variety ( O. corniculatavar.atropurpurea ) is especially attractive .
The flora can acquire up to eight inches tall and does salutary in geographical zone 4 to 8 in full to fond sun .
4. Corymbosa
This coinage is technically categorized as a assortment ofO.debilis , but you ’ll often seeO. corymbosamislabeled as its own species .
It is a robust grower ( you might even call it aggressive in some areas ) with leaves feature three triangular leaflet .
The pinkish or lavender flowers earned this plant life the sobriquet “ pink shamrock ” or “ pink woodwind instrument rozelle . ”
‘ Aureo - Reticulata ’ is a sensational cultivar of this variety . It has that characteristic small trio of leaflets that make up each leaf , but the nervure are shining halcyon - yellow . The pinkish blossoms in the springtime are just an total bonus .
Plants of this diverseness grow best in Zones 7 to 10 in full or fond sunlight and pass about nine column inch tall .
‘ Aureo - Reticulata ’
you’re able to find plants in three - inch potsavailable from Winter Greenhouse via Walmart .
5. Deppei
This species is probably most famous for the cultivar ‘ Iron Cross , ’ which has a typical dark purple mark at the base of the four leaves , bring it the appearance of a cross .
O. deppei(syn . O. tetraphylla ) aka four - leafage sorrel is reliable and prolific , as well as being tall than many other species . It can reach up to a foot high in the right conditions .
verbalise of being robust , this one might even be too prolific in some areas .
It can grow rapidly and may seem in parts of the garden you do n’t require it , so you ’ll need to keep an heart on its spread .
or else , rise it in a container as many multitude choose to do around St. Patrick ’s Day .
Grow it as a perennial in Zones 7 to 10 or as an yearbook in Zones 3 to 7 .
‘ Iron Cross ’
If you have sex the look of this plant life , it’savailable at Amazonin 20 - corm ingroup .
6. Grandis
outstanding wood sorrel ( O. grandis ) is truly heroic . Stretching all the way up to two feet tall , it ’s one of the tallest species you could retrieve . The column inch - wide efflorescence are bright yellow with a point of red at the base of each petal .
This species is native to the eastern United States , and while the flowers are undeniably lovely , even when the plant is n’t in bloom it ’s eye - transmittable , with two - column inch - wide lime immature leaves .
Grow this big , bold industrial plant in Zones 6 to 11 in full or fond sun .
7. Montana
plenty wood Hibiscus sabdariffa ( O. montana ) is a charmer with its delicate white and lavender stripy heyday .
The bright green leaves contribute color to shaded areas , especially under conifers , and the efflorescence dot the plant throughout the summer .
This six - in - magniloquent plant is find in coolheaded , forested area of easterly North America , and its retire nature makes it all the more special .
If you need anOxalisyou can enjoy with no concern that it will break gratuitous and turn encroaching , this should be among your top pick for Zones 6 to 10 .
8. Purpurea
Purple wood sorrel ( O. purpurea ) has large , dark pink flowers that are pretty enough to make this plant deserving develop for the blossom alone .
The petite , heart - shaped 3 of leaflets are merely a pretty backdrop for this South African indigene . And it only mature about five inch tall , so it ’s pure for replacing grass .
This flora grows well in geographical zone 9 and 10 , but it will self - seed and reliably come back yr after year in regions as cold as Zone 6 . Just watch out – in the right conditions , it can become weedy .
It grow best in fond Sunday or tincture , or you may establish some in pots indoors in a window with morning Lord’s Day .
9. Stricta
Common woods sorrel ( O. stricta ) is a North American native that ’s often considered a weed .
You ’ll often hear about method acting for getting free of it from lawns and gardens . But if you ’re looking for a lawn replacement , do n’t struggle it , countenance it grow !
It tolerates low illumination well than most species produce as lawn replacement , and native pollinators hump it . Plus , you may eat on it .
The plant life grows up to a foot tall and send out cheerful lily-livered prime in the bound .
It ’s widely adapted and distributed , popping up from Zone 4 to 11 in full sun to shade .
10. Triangularis
With big , triangular leaflets that may be green , variegated , or dark purple , O. triangularisis one of the most common mintage in polish because it makes such a gorgeous lesser yellow trefoil for grace .
ordinarily known as false shamrock and formerly classify asO. regnellii , you ’ll see this eccentric popping up in container at stores and restaurants right around St. Patrick ’s 24-hour interval .
The ‘ Atropurpurea ’ cultivar of thepapilionaceaesubspecies is particularly stunning .
The triangular leaves are nearly smuggled with a brilliant purple blotch in the center , and pale pinkish flowers bloom in the fountain . It grows in Zones 7 to 10 .
11. Tuberosa
You probably wo n’t foot this species for its ornamental value , butO. tuberosais an excellent intellectual nourishment root .
The tubers are cultivated throughout South America as a vegetable , with cultivar available that feature jaundiced , orangish , peach , pinkish , or ruby tubers .
You might have attend these flyspeck potato - like veg for sale at specialty markets – they ’re commonly labeled “ oka ” in North America . Or if you exist in New Zealand , where they ’re readily available , you likely acknowledge them simply as yam .
The tubers are incredibly tasty . When cooked , they ’re almost like a white potato conflate with false emollient . Raw , they have a more citrusy flavor .
Above earth , the plant give rise humble greenish leaf with three triangular leaflet each , which are also edible . The stems are pretty tasty , too , though you should cook them to cut the acrimony .
O. tuberosagrows easily in zona 6 to 9 , particularly in areas that have cooler summer temperature . reckon on the cultivar , they usually grow between 12 and 24 inches grandiloquent .
12. Versicolor
O. versicoloris known as candy cane sorrel , and one look at the bold white and reddened blossoms and you ’ll know why .
I opine oxalis flowers are wizardly , but they are n’t exactly showy . Not so withO. versicolor . The efflorescence are fuller , larger , and more colorful than other mintage .
O. versicolornative to South Africa , and grows up to six inch tall .
It flower from belated summer until the freeze and will fall year after class in Zones 7 to 9 .
13. Violacea
This North American indigen , commonly called violet wood oxalis ( O. violacea ) , is threatened in the state of nature in some region , so do you part and cultivate off !
The vibrant pink and purplish efflorescence with green throat start showing up in the spring and endure for month on the 16 - inch plants .
While each half - inch - wide blossom is treat , these appear in clusters of up to 19 case-by-case prime , making for a prominent shock .
This is the only character of reddish blue - floweredOxalisseen in many part of the US , so count yourself favourable if you have it growing in the wild .
you may often purchase it at baby’s room that specialize in aboriginal plants , but these are n’t very common in cultivation otherwise .
The hammock of yellowish green leave-taking and the purple blossoms are endearing in mass plantings or borders .
Oxalis Deserves More Love in the Garden
horticulture is dominated by trends . Flowers and other ornamentals come in and out of fashion as sure enough as the clothes walked down the Paris runways .
AndOxalisis one of those plants that has plugged aside in the background , disregarded as a weed one year and cultivated as a shamrock for the holiday the next .
I consider it ’s clock time Grant Wood Hibiscus sabdariffa was given the public eye , and the species featured on this lean declare oneself a mythologic place to start .
Are you interested inlearning more about growing oxalis ? tally out these guides next :
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Kristine Lofgren
