Oxalis triangularis grow and care – herbaceous geophyte bulb of the genus Oxalis also known as Purple shamrock or False shamrock, Oxalis triangularis perennial summer deciduous plant, the plant is edible for the leaves, flowers and bulbs, used as ornamental plant, can grow in mediterranean, subtropical or temperate climate or as houseplant and growing in hardiness zone 7-11.
Oxalis triangularis edible bulbs, leaves and flower
Leaves edible color purple to black in triangular shape the leaves grow in group of the 3 heat shape connected in the base of the heart and create radial shape.
Flower edible color purple to white with 5 petal the petals emerged together in the base of the flower, the size of the flower 1-2.5 cm, the flowers grow on cluster.
Oxalis triangularis for sale – Seeds, bulbs or Plants to Buy
How to grow Oxalis triangularis growing and care:
Well-drained soil, some varieties need cool weather
How to care:
Add fertilize once a year, mulch when the plant go to dormant
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seedling / Seed / Bulb/ Vegetative Reproduction
How to propagate:
Better to separate the bulbs in the dormant season, the main problem that the bulbs are small and hard to find, so if not possible to find the bulbs, take the plants and dived them, be aware the that the bulbs might be very deep and need to dig gently and dry to get the plant with the bulbs if not mostly the plant will die
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
No, but easier to start from bulbs than seeds
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Invasive, contain oxalic acid
Recommended planting season?
Spring to summer above 5C (41F) or autumn to winter in hardiness zone temperature less than 0C (32F)
When to plant bulbs?
Spring above 5C (41F) or autumn in hardiness zone temperature less than 0C (32F)
How to plant bulbs?
Planting in moist soil, rich soil, keep the soil moist and watering
How to plant:
Planting dig hole bigger than deep as the current root ball plus extra 90-200% bigger the plant small the percentage, put in the hole organic matter, hummus and dried leaves and mix it with some soil, put the plant and loos little bit the root ball above the hole, plant and cover it and don’t push the soil too much strong but not too much lightly because the plant might fall into the hole with the watering, after this put mulch to keep moist on soil, put water, for the next two weeks put every day (better in the morning), bulbs need to plant 2-5cm deep (1-2 inches).
Pests and diseases:
Powdery mildew, fungal
Pruning season:
Autumn above 5C (41F) or summer in hardiness zone temperature less than 0C (32F) or
How to prune a Oxalis plant:
For design and dead parts
Size of the plant:
10-20 cm, 4-8 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade / Full Shade (with light)
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
Yes
Indoor care
Growing is also possible in a planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, start with pot size that will be 3-6 liter (0.8-1.6 gallons), every time that plant arrive to full capacity need to switch to bigger until arrives to desirable size, better to use this method because the soil lose the viability over time and it’s efficient of care for the tree, when the plant big need to switch part of the soil, drainage it’s important and need to make holes, rich soil and organic matter, possible to take the bulb out of the soil in the dormant season
Blooming information
Bloom season:
Autumn / Winter / Spring
General information about the flower
Purple to white flower with 5 petals, the petals emerged together in the base of the flower, the size of the flower 2-4 cm, the flowers grow on cluster
Uses of Oxalis pes-caprae flower:
Salad, eaten raw
Edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season
Autumn / Winter / Spring
How to harvest the leaves?
After established can be cut from the base of the plant
Information about leaves:
Leaves color purple to black in triangular shape the leaves grow in group of the 3 heat shape connected in the base of the heart and create radial shape.
Uses of Oxalis triangularis leaves:
Salad, cooked
Edible Roots
Information about bulb:
White to brown in tear shape small size, the taste is sour
Harvesting bulb season:
Spring or autumn
Uses of Oxalis triangularis bulb:
Cooked, eaten raw, salad, pickles
How to grow Oxalis triangularis from Seeds
Sowing requirement:
Moist soil and humidity
Saving seeds and care until sowing:
Dry and dark place, keep the seeds in refrigerator
Sowing season:
Spring above 5C (41F) or autumn in hardiness zone temperature less than 0C (32F)
How to plant:
Planting in moist soil, better peat soil or other soil the keep the moist
Planting spacing:
2*3cm (0.8-1.2 inch)
Depth of Sowing:
0.5cm (0.25 inch)
Conditions for seeds germinate:
Important to keep the soil moist with high humidity don’t let it dry
Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water
Germination time:
3-5 weeks
Condition of seedling:
Moist soil, high humidity and half shade
Do the seeds require burying?
Yes
Chilling hour’s requirements:
At least one month in temperature that under 5C (41F)
Scientific name:
Oxalis triangularis
Alternative names:
oxalis regnellii