'Orrible Oxalis-or so you think

[kiwiorchids]

Right, so in my time away from the forum, I have been building new collections. The latest and fastest growing, is Oxalis.

I have 26 odd species (maybe more...), and I confess...I LOVE Oxalis

Boy, I never thought I'd ever say that!

Anyway, what annoys me most about Oxalis, is the stigma most gardeners have about it (by most, I mean ALL, nearly).
"Eww it's a weed!"
"Oh no! You'll never get rid of it, why are you growing that beastly plant in a pot?!"

I start with this: There are 900 or so species, and the vast majority of them make excellent ornamentals. However, it seems only a small few (in NZ's case, I think 5 or 6 species) have tarnished the entire Oxalis genus with the same brush. They are delightful little plants, and provide colour when the winter days are short and cold.

With these photos, I've started with flowers, paired with photos of the plant, then just plants, as most of the collection refused to flower this year. Poos.

I hope you enjoy!

Oxalis engleriana




Oxalis perdicaria (syn O. lobata)

[kiwiorchids]

Oxalis caprina (can be weedy)




Oxalis melanosticta

[kiwiorchids]

Oxalis peduncularis (A South American one, rather unusual)


Oxalis namaquana


Oxalis versicolor 'BC' (A very popular species)


Back of O. versicolor 'BC' flower

[kiwiorchids]

Labeled Oxalis compressa 'Double'


Oxalis flava var. lupinifolia


Oxalis gracilis


Oxalis flava-yellow

[kiwiorchids]

Oxalis purpurea alba (a non-stop bloomer, very well behaved)




Oxalis massoniana


Oxalis boweii

[kiwiorchids]

Oxalis obtusa 'Apricot'


Oxalis glabra


Oxalis polyphylla var pentophylla


Oxalis brasiliensis

[kiwiorchids]

Unidentified-possible Oxalis herrerae


Oxalis palmifrons (A favorite, for foliage, very shy flowerer)




Oxalis pocockiae

[kiwiorchids]

Oxalis collected from Hamilton Botanic Gardens, labelled 'Oxalis aff. vulcanicola". Since ID'd as Oxalis siliquosa


Oxalis dregei


Oxalis mesneri

[zainal abidin]

Awesome collection Jordan I like the different color so cool wish I can grow here.

[kiwiorchids]

Awesome collection Jordan I like the different color so cool wish I can grow here.

I wouldn't think, Zain, that it'd be too difficult...just gotta keep them on the dry side is all The bulk of them are South African, with several South American species hailing mostly from the Atacama region, and one indigenous to my own country, as well as South America, Australia and parts of SE Asia, Oxalis magellanica