Six summer growing Oxalis species!

This week on The Horti-Culturalists we're taking another look at a group of plants close to Stephen's heart, Oxalis! We made a video about winter growing decorative Oxalis, which you can see here: • How to grow Oxalis in ... and in this video we're looking at their decorative cousins which are summer growing and include some of the most popular house plants of the moment: Oxalis 'Iron Cross' and Oxalis triangularis. Important to note none of the species we look at today are weedy in Australia, although there is one spectacularly weedy winter growing South African Oxalis species in Australia called Oxalis pes-caprae, and we'll learn some very interesting facts about that persistent thug!
There is a lot of confusion about names in the Oxalis world and these are the ones we're looking at today:
Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'
Oxalis triangularis
Oxalis regnellii or Oxalis triangularis ssp. papilionacea
Oxalis Stipularis
Oxalis latifolia?
Oxalis magellanica

[@kerryharvey6365]

Always such a fun, informative, botanical lesson from you both.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Glad you enjoyed it! Regards Stephen

[@covenant_gears]

20:33 That my friend, is Oxalis Violacea

[@Blit8858]

Thank you! Great information.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Our pleasure! Regards Stephen

[@L.A.6482]

Planted some iron cross oxalis bulbs zone 9a humid climate gulf coast states because I had a wild native species (not sure it’s a pink flowered with three clover lobes) under a cypress tree semi shade. We will see. Loved your video on Oxalis species.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I feel that it should be ok but I always believe in experimenting as you never know. Regards Stephen

[@sunenielsen2686]

Thank you for yet another entertaining episode. My mind explosion came in the end when you showed the Australian species that looked almost similar to the one that I can find in woods here in Denmark, Oxalis acetosella. A little sour snack on my walks.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Ours is even smaller! Regards Stephen

[@dewdan11dnd46]

🫶🤩👍Well, that was another deep dive, into Oxlariumnation. I’ve got the purple Oxalis, in a large planter, along with an assortment of perennials in the garden, south London, UK. As it’s winter here, the Oxalis is less than showy and it seems a bit thin and not as bushy, when in bloom, as when I first bought it, about three years ago. I have another small, green foliaged,Oxalis, which I assume is bulbous. I was prepping the beds last year and threw what I thought were the remnants from a squirrel meal away, then later in the summer what was left of it, grew into what I have today.(sorry I can’t remember the exact name) They are such lovely plants. Thanks for another great duo video 🎄💞

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@rayhamer2847]

Oxalis fan in tassie

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Just love an Oxalis geek! Regards Stephen

[@Royaliize]

Hey! Love the indepth video about oxalis! I have added a few more to the wish list😅. About rust i have found out, too wet soils is a no no, and i believe cold water on the leafs causes rust as well, atleast on the south american species. Think them as africa violets, that get spots on them if u leave water on them for too long. I got a question tho, why are they in tall pots? Keep up the good work.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I find that many need to get their bulbs down quite deeply to flower properly. Regards Stephen

[@joanne-et6pm]

Hi Stephen & Matt Great video & history content really unusual plant form but I'll have to check them out in new year we had a tornado on Xmas day GC so picking up torn plants & trying to save my garden 😮 We wish u both a very merry Xmas & prosperous New year for u guys & world peace 👍🙏🏻 Jo-Anne & Winnie GC

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Hope most of your plants come through and the best of gardening in the new year. Regards Stephen

[@besottedorchids3605]

I've grown this as an indoor plant. They are usually available around st Patricks day in Ohio

[@thehorti-culturalists]

And of course they don’t have any real connection with Ireland but a good marketing ploy! Regards Stephen

[@besottedorchids3605]

@@thehorti-culturalists they call them shamrock plants as a marketing ploy

[@bethellingworth7814]

I have a feeling that the Chestnut blight that has decimated the American Chestnut Tree is from Japan not Europe. Love your programmes!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Not sure the jury is in on it, but an interesting thought. Regards Stephen

[@1004abcd]

❤❤❤

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching!

[@brocktoon8]

Oxilarium! What a great word : )

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Isn't it!

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thank you I like the sound of it! Regards Stephen

[@GardeningWithCoffee]

I love your videos 😊

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Thanks for watching them!

[@sylviahardy4568]

Thanks guys you've answered a question about my purple leaved Oxalis here in the UK 🇬🇧, which i hadn't expected to behave as an evergreen. I potted it up as a seasonal house plant. It's been in continuous leaf for nine months and has only just stopped flowering. No signs of Rust. What should i do for the best? Feed it? Cut back to give it a rest period or to encourage new growth? Your advice would be most appreciated 🙂🤗

[@thehorti-culturalists]

It seems to work quite well as an evergreen indoor plant so it probably won't matter which way you go. I guess whatever works. Regards Stephen

[@Loogiemistress]

Well, I like those oxalis & even the Aussie one.. But the winter lawn one I really dislike.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

You are allowed to like or dislike any plant you choose. Regards Stephen

[@kathybradley7818]

Ohhh i dont have magnifica! Do you post just bulbs in winter? :)

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I don't usually deal in mail order I'm sorry. Regards Stephen

[@Royaliize]

Could oxalis stipularis be decaphylla they do look preety similar, or somekind of a intermediate form between 2 species?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

The certainty of Oxalis names is far from settled so who knows. In many cases I grow them under the names that they came with always happy to change them if a definitive name comes my way. Regards Stephen

[@gordonissocoollike]

I’m in Scotland. I grow them , inside mostly , they might not survive frosts

[@thehorti-culturalists]

Probably not! Regards Stephen

[@lisakeller7698]

Where can we find the bulbs at?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I sell some at Dicksonia Rare Plants Mt. Macedon and they often show up on market place

[@paulacothren3591]

What is the alternate host for the oxalis rust? I am in North Carolina and do see occasional rust on triangularis in the garden.

[@thehorti-culturalists]

I haven't been able to find out the alternate host unfortunately. Regards Stephen

[@maureenburke-gaffney3079]

Is a shamrock an oxalis ?

[@thehorti-culturalists]

No a Shamrock is a form of Clover and Oxalis aren’t although I have seen labels for Oxalis with Shamrock on them which is of course completely wrong! Regards Stephen

[@maureenburke-gaffney3079]

Thank you Stephen. I’ve been exonerated! I like being right. It doesn't happen all that frequently.