Clover Oxalis
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Clover:
- Phonetic Spelling
- oks-AL-iss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Annual or perennial herbs; leaves clover-like, long-stalked with 3 leaflets; flowers 5-parted, white, yellow, lavender, or rose, close at night; fruit a capsule
Grows best in full sun to 25% shade. When planting, bury rhizomes or stolons 2 in. (5 cm) deep. Best propagated by rhizomes and stolons or by seed. O. deppei, O. lasiandra, and O. regnelli species are considered tender species.
Native to Europe, Asia-Tropical, Africa, Falkland Island, Pacific, Southern America, Australasia, Northern America, and Asia-Temperate.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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O. articulata
- O. bifida
- O. deppei
- O. deppei 'Iron Cross'
- O. lasiandra
- O. regnelli 'Triangularis'
O. violacea
- O. bifida
- O. articulata, O. bifida, O. corniculata L., O. deppei , O. deppei 'Iron Cross' , O. grandis, O. lasiandra , O. montana, O. regnelli 'Triangularis' , O. stricta L., O. violacea
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
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O. articulata
- O. bifida
- O. deppei
- O. deppei 'Iron Cross'
- O. lasiandra
- O. regnelli 'Triangularis'
O. violacea
- O. bifida
- O. articulata, O. bifida, O. corniculata L., O. deppei , O. deppei 'Iron Cross' , O. grandis, O. lasiandra , O. montana, O. regnelli 'Triangularis' , O. stricta L., O. violacea
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Oxalis
- Family:
- Oxalidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Americas and South Africa
- Bulb Storage:
- Store rhizomes or bulbs in peat or vermiculite at 35-41 degrees F (2-5C)
- Edibility:
- EDIBLE PARTS: Small amounts of leaves, flowers, seeds, tubers/roots eaten raw are not dangerous. They have a lemon-like sour flavor.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Bulb
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- A capsule that bursts open when ripe, scattering the seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Saucer
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The 5-parted flowers come in a variety of colors and close at night.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The bright green leaves are long-stalked with 3 clover-like leaflets, obovate with a notch at the top. Some cultivars have a purple color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
-
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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
