About
A ground-hugging perennial with branched, creeping stems, small, clover-like leaves, varying from bright mid-green to dark red-purple. Small, yellow, five-petalled flowers are followed by upright, five-ribbed seed pods.
About the genus
Oxalis can be annuals or perennials, with fibrous, bulbous or rhizomatous rootstocks, palmately divided leaves and funnel-shaped or bowl-shaped flowers that mostly close in dull weather and at night
Growing conditions
SunlightFull shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-facing, North-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitMatforming
FoliageDeciduous
HeightUp to 10 cm
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesBorders, containers, naturalising in grass.
Care notes
CultivationSeeds and spreads rapidly on paths, walls, waste and cultivated ground. May have the potential to become a nuisance in lawns, beds and borders, tubs and pots and greenhouses if not well managed. See oxalis for more information
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationSpreads mostly by seed, though stems also root at the nodes
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free