Oxalis from South America are included on this wiki page
Miscellaneous oxalis - South African oxalis A-B - South African oxalis C - South African oxalis D-E - South African oxalis F-G - South African oxalis H-K - South African oxalis L-M - South African oxalis N-O - South African oxalis P - South African oxalis R-S - South African oxalis T-Z - Oxalis index
Oxalis adenophylla from Chile and Argentina, has blue green hairy leaves in rosettes and lilac pink flowers with a dark center and deep veins. This plant grows in summer and does best in cool climates and is a good plant for rock gardens. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller taken May 2004 in Ian Young's Scotland garden.
Oxalis articulata has a large range in southern South America. It grows from hard woody round rhizomes which are articulated together and are formed rather deep in the ground. It is good for poor, dry places in the garden that gets full sun. The photo below were taken at the UC Botanical Garden by Nhu Nguyen in August 2008.
Oxalis brasiliensis, a mat growing species from Brazil, acts as a winter grower in Mary Sue Ittner's garden. It has a short dormancy late summer-fall and then grows again when it starts raining in Northern California and blooms in the spring. It multiplies rapidly and I have only grown it in a pot. In the ground with regular water it might make an interesting ground cover, but also might be invasive. Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner
Oxalis bulbocastanum is a species native to coastal northern Chile, where it grows in rocky, sandy soil in a climate that is extremely arid but experiences frequent fogs (called "camanchaca"). This plant was photographed by Jane McGary in a canyon near Paposo, just north of Taltal.
Oxalis enneaphylla from South America and the Falkland Islands has white to rose lavender flowers with deep purple veining and pleated grey green leaves.
Oxalis enneaphylla 'Lady Elizabeth' This cultivar was blooming in the Alpine House at Wisley Gardens, U.K., May 2004. Photo by Bob Rutemoeller.
Oxalis gigantea is from Chile. It is shrubby and tall from 1 to 1.7 meters with yellow flowers in spring. Photo by Osmani Baullosa
Oxalis herrerae is a species from Peru. It can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions from full sun to part shade. In lush soils with good watering, it will retain it's leaves and will drop them to reveal a succulent when water is withheld. The most interesting thing about this species is the swollen petioles which gets rather fat in full sun and spindly with less sun. Flowering spike carry numerous 1" yellow flowers which is most prolific in spring and summer. It can be cut back hard in the spring for a tamed appearance. Propagation is easy by stem cutting. This is a fun one to have for anyone who likes arborescent Oxalis. Photo by Nhu Nguyen showing the swollen petioles.
Oxalis ‘Ione Hecker’ is a hybrid between Oxalis laciniata and Oxalis enneaphylla. It is fully hardy, as are most of the South American oxalides, but has a tougher constitution than others. 'Ione Hecker' has withstood years of neglect and abuse that have killed a good many other South American forms. Recently repotted into a soil mix rich in pumice, it is thriving. Photos by Rodger Whitlock and Liz Waterman.
Oxalis perdicaria (syn. Oxalis lobata.) Plants are grown under both of these names and although they were thought to be separate by some people, the consensus now is that they are probably both versions of the same species. According to Clifton, 2004, (source information found in References), the name O. lobata was published in 1823 and the name O. perdicaria in 1833. However the RHS Advisory Panel on Nomenclature & Taxonomy in June 2007 is recommending using the name Oxalis perdicaria which they say was an earlier name. The leaflets are unusual in that one lobe of the leaflet stands up looking like Mickey Mouse ears. This plant is suitable for outdoor planting in the appropriate climate since it can withstand several degrees of frost and is not invasive. It originates in Chile. The first two photos were taken by Bill Dijk and the last by Mary Sue Ittner of a plant blooming October 2004 purchased as Oxalis lobata from Telos Rare Bulbs. The flowers are such a bright yellow, almost covering the leaves.
Oxalis spiralis ssp. vulcanicola , is a valid name. Could it be the right name for this plant obtained as Oxalis siliquosa (vulcanicola) ? The named plant is from South America, but where this one is from I'm not sure. It has succulent type stems. The leaves and flowers are very small; the flowers are yellow with a reddish throat. It blooms for me most of the year and dies back only in the hottest part of summer, late August into September. Photo by Ann Marie Rametta.
Oxalis sp This unidentified species from Ecuador and known as sp. 30602 blooms in summer with large pink flowers with aubergine deep purple centres and a green eye in the middle. It has multiflowered scapes high above the foliage and flowers a long time. It is dormant in winter. The bulbs were given to me several years ago by a very friendly gardener of the Göttingen Botanical Gardens. Photos by Johannes-Ulrich Urban. This plant looks very much like a picture of Oxalis elegans which Clifton says is found in Peru.
Oxalis triangularis This species from Brazil has leaves flushed wine red to purple with a zone in each segment. This plant can be kept growing continuously if it is watered regularly and makes a fine houseplant. The first two photos were taken by Ann Marie Rametta and Bill Dijk. The third photo taken by Bob Rutemoeller shows the attractive leaves and flowers. Water was withheld so the bulbs could be shared with others and dormancy induced. The second photo taken by Mary Sue Ittner shows the bulbs displayed on a 1 cm. grid. The one on the left still has the remnants of the rhizome that is present when the plants are in growth. You often see this species with cultivar names, but it seems safer not to attribute cultivar names to plants that were traded between friends.
Miscellaneous oxalis - South African oxalis A-B - South African oxalis C - South African oxalis D-E - South African oxalis F-G -South African oxalis H-K - South African oxalis L-M - South African oxalis N-O - South African oxalis P - South African oxalis R-S - South African oxalis T-Z - Oxalis index