Hey Plant Friends!

This week we are talking about Oxalis, more commonly known as purple or green shamrock. Oxalis is a large genus of flowering plants in the Oxalidaceae, or wood-sorrel family and is native to South America. Oxalis have distinct triangle shaped, purple or green foliage that dances in the sunlight. Extra bonus, they flower! Purple-leaved oxalis have lavender flowers while green leaved shamrocks have white flowers. Oxalis and shamrocks are commonly sold around St. Patrick’s Day as a seasonal plant but with the correct care they make a great houseplant.

Let’s talk about care. Oxalis love to sit in a bright, sunny window. Morning sun is best. Oxalis are sensitive to extreme temperatures, but do like a bit of a chill. A chilly, east facing window is nearly the perfect location. Allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry before watering. Oxalis will show wilt when it's time to water and do recover nicely from drought. Repot using Espoma’s All Purpose Potting Mix. Oxalis go dormant in the summer, usually only for a month or so. When this happens, the foliage will die back almost all the way. Fear not, this is normal. Reduce watering, trim back the dry foliage, and place in a cool, dark location. After about a month of rest, return to a sunny window, water well, and watch the magic unfold. Keep an eye out for insect pests including aphids and spider mites. Check for pests weekly when watering. Keep a bottle of Bonide’s Eight Insect Control on hand for easy treatment.

Oxalis is available at Tonkadale in 2”, 4”, and 6” pots. If you have additional questions feel free to reach out to us by phone, Instagram, or email us at hello@tonkadale.com.

Happy Planting!