Purple Oxalis
Purple Oxalis
–
Oxalis regnellii
Purple-Leaf Shamrock; False Shamrock; Black Shamrock; Love Plant
6
–
12 inches
6
–
12 inches
South America, Brazil to Argentina
Part Sun/Shade
Medium
About This Plant
Morning sun or dappled shade. Nearly evergreen… or ever-purple. Purple shamrock, or purple oxalis, is a pleasant clover-like plant with distinctive three-lobed leaves that could have been designed by a visionary garden gnome. It’s great for providing those spots of purple color that really stand out against the lustrous dark greens of central Texas shade. White blooms appear in winter.
A bulb-type plant, purple oxalis expands around the garden from small nodules. It tends to stay close to moisture — in fact it sometimes disappears completely in summer, returning in autumn. Unlike “purple heart” setcreasia and some of its own pink oxalis relatives, it doesn’t run wild in the watersaver garden.
Maintenance
No particular maintenance is required. Oxalis spread by corms (think bulbs) and can be dug up or even passed along without too much trouble. Although some oxalis species can be very aggressive in the garden, Oxalis regnellii is considered a very mild-mannered member of the clan.
Features
Plant Type:
Groundcover
Size:
6-12" H, 6-12" W
Sunlight Requirements:
Part Sun/Shade
Soil Types:
Clay, Well drained
Wildlife:
Flower Color:
White
Bloom Time:
January, February
Freeze Hardy:
Yes
Invasive:
No
Caution:
None
Coupon Eligible:
No
This plant goes well with
Tulbaghia violacea
Aristilochia fimbriata
- List Item #1
- List Item #2
- List Item #3
Recent Posts
