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Oxalis articulata

Previously known as:

  • Oxalis crassipes
Phonetic Spelling
oks-AL-iss ar-tik-yoo-LAH-tuh
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

There are many species of Oxalis, but Pink Oxalis or Woods Sorrel is a special, old fashioned plant. It is a deciduous rhizomatous perennial that is dense and mounded and grows up to 1' tall. Flowers of this plant may be partially concealed by the foliage. It is commonly used as an indoor potted plant as well as a border perennial. Flowers and leaves fold at night. This plant may go dormant in dry, hot summers if is is not watered. Leaves contain oxalates that are classified as poisonous, although the effects are local and not systemic or internal. This plant is tolerant of full sun to partial shade. It tolerates dry soil but goes dormant. It prefers moist, well-drained soil. Old plantings form rounded clumps covered with hundreds of bright pink flowers, blooming once in the spring and again in fall. It is almost impossible to kill and can be passed along to friends with the small, scaly, bulb-like rhizomes. This plant is relatively pest free.

Grows best in full sun to partial shade and moist to dry soil.  They can be propagated by division of the bulb-like rhizomes in the fall or spring.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Low, mounded, stemless perennial with clover-like leaves
  • Ternately compound leaf folds down at night
  • 5-petaled pink/white/magenta flowers close at night

More information on Oxalis.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • f. crassipes 'Alba'
    dense tufts of green 1/2 inch leaves and white blooms
  • 'Pink Pillow'
    pink to violet flowers, arranged in 3 to 12 umbellate cymes
  • 'Rosea'
    bright pink flower
  • subsp. rubra
    red to pink flower arranged in 6 to 12 umbellate cymes
f. crassipes 'Alba', 'Pink Pillow', 'Rosea', subsp. rubra
Tags:
#poisonous#houseplant#white flowers#pink flowers#yellow flowers#rhizomes#edible garden#fantz#HS302#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#lawn planting#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • f. crassipes 'Alba'
    dense tufts of green 1/2 inch leaves and white blooms
  • 'Pink Pillow'
    pink to violet flowers, arranged in 3 to 12 umbellate cymes
  • 'Rosea'
    bright pink flower
  • subsp. rubra
    red to pink flower arranged in 6 to 12 umbellate cymes
f. crassipes 'Alba', 'Pink Pillow', 'Rosea', subsp. rubra
Tags:
#poisonous#houseplant#white flowers#pink flowers#yellow flowers#rhizomes#edible garden#fantz#HS302#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#lawn planting#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Oxalis
    Species:
    articulata
    Family:
    Oxalidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South America
    Edibility:
    EDIBLE PARTS: Small amounts of leaves, flowers, seeds, tubers/roots eaten raw are not dangerous. They have a lemon-like sour flavor.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 8 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Rounded
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Fruits are a dehiscent capsule that is fleshy and ejects seeds when ripe.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Saucer
    Trumpet
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are pink, white, magenta, or yellow in color. They grow up to an inch in size and have 5 petals that are partially fused at the base. Flowers have 10 stamens that are in 2 whorls of 5. Inflorescence is an umbel up to 3" in diameter with a long pedicel.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Obovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are basal, ternately compound, obovate with a notch at the top, and are erect to spreading. Leaves have 3 clover-like leaflets that are obcordate to incised triangular, entire, bright green or burgundy in color, and fold down at night. Petioles are slender and succulent.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are acaulescent.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Houseplants
    Lawn
    Naturalized Area
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Poor Soil
    Problems:
    Poisonous to Humans
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
    Weedy
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    CAUSES ONLY LOW TOXICITY IF EATEN. Large quantities may cause trembling, cramps, and staggering in grazing animals, but there are no documented cases in humans. All parts of the plant have toxic potential, although the possibility of serious effects is usually limited to ingestions of large quantities. Consuming Oxalis species can produce colic in horses, and kidney failure is possible if significant amounts are eaten.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Soluble calcium oxylates
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Sap/Juice
    Seeds
    Stems