April's Plant of the Month: Oxalis Triangularis

Oxalis regnelli ‘triangularis’/Purple Shamrock plant/Trebol Purpura

Oxalis Triangularis

With it’s beautiful deep purple butterfly shaped foliage and delicate white flowers, Oxalis is a classic and essential plant for every serious plant collector. Oxalis is an easy to grow, vigorous and long lasting plant. The plant is also famed for it’s movement, as it’s leaves open in day light and close in lower light, particularly dramatic when viewed in time lapse videos. Oxalis can be a very long lived and is often referred to as an heirloom plant, since it can be enjoyed for many years and divided to give new plants for your friends and family to enjoy.

Grow in bright indirect light, preferably in a standard, well draining soil mixture. Allow the soil to dry out before watering. When watering, saturate the soil until water escapes from the bottom of the pot. Oxalis can tolerate some direct sun, but does not like overly high temperatures, which can make the plant look dull and cause it to go into dormancy.

The plant will occasionally go into a dormancy period (approximately every 2-7 years). During this time plant leaves will die off and it will appear the plant is having serious health issues. Stop watering during dormant periods and let the soil dry. After a few weeks, you should see new growth reappear, at which time you can also resume watering. The plant should recover fairly quickly after new growth appears.

OXALIS CARE

LIGHT

Bright indirect light. Appreciates a small amount of direct sun in the morning or late afternoon

WATER

Approximately once a week. Wait for the soil to be visibly dry before watering. Do not overwater !

FERTILIZE

Lightly fertilize ¼ to ½ strength once a month. Do not fertilize during dormant periods.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Oxalis Triangularis can live up to 100 years!