Oxalis Revisted - Oxalis regnelli.

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Oxalis Revisited
In the summer of 2002 I planted two 10-inch, white plastic hanging baskets with purple Oxalis, Oxalis triangularis. The plants have done well and the dark purple color and light pink flowers have been a pleasant addition to my summer shaded hanging plant collection. The contrast between the bright white plastic basket and dark purple color works well in my garden.

Two hanging baskets of Oxalis triangularis.

Each winter I move the baskets to the greenhouse and eventually trim the leaves and flowers to the soil's surface. I add fresh potting soil and a bit of slow release fertilizer and wait for the rhizomes to sprout new leaves. When the weather warms, the plants get moved back to my shady hanging garden area.

The green leaves and small white flowers of Oxalis regnelli.
Oxalis regnelli.

While browsing the seed catalogs last spring I ran across Oxalis regnelli , a green version of the triangularis, and couldn't resist ordering a few of the rhizomes to plant in green hanging baskets. They were quick to sprout and flower although the foliage is a bit smaller than the purple species. The delicate flowers of the regnelli are white where the triangularis are pinkish. Eventually I'll divide the rhizomes and repot both varieties and do a mixed planting where the green and purple share the same container for a bit of contrast.

A purple leaf of Oxalis triangularis compared to O. regnelli.

Both plants are grown in a shady area and trimmed up a bit when fading leaves and flowers hang over the sides of the containers. The leaves fold down at night and also seem to fold during times of water stress.

Watch for Oxalis rhizomes in the bulb and some of the seed catalogs. They make for easy-to-care-for container plants. (2004)