Oxalis-2011

[Janis Ruksans]

With me now in greenhouse are top of hardy Oxalis blooming. Alhough completely hardy here, seedlings I'm growing in greenhouse before selection of best ones. Today was pleasantly surprised by this beauty.
Janis

[krisderaeymaeker]

With me now in greenhouse are top of hardy Oxalis blooming. Alhough completely hardy here, seedlings I'm growing in greenhouse before selection of best ones. Today was pleasantly surprised by this beauty.
Janis

This is a real beauty Janis ! Hope you can multiplie this fantastic Oxalis .......

[Lesley Cox]

I agree with Chris, a real treasure that one.

I have a new potential problem. I've grown Oxalis lobata (perdicaria now) for many years and though it is vigorous and can be divided frequently, it has never spread about where I didn't want it, I just put it in a bigger pot every couple of years. But this autumn (we are now coming into winter), all the pots around the Oxalis pot have very tiny (one or two leaf) O. lobata in them, sometimes many. For the first time ever, it has seeded and I'm pulling out 10 or more every day from the surrounding pots of bulbs. I've not seen anything that looked like a seed capsule, but seedlings they definitely are. When I lift them carefully, there's no tiny bulblet at the base, just a fine, hair-like root, about 2 or 3 centimetres long. I've left a couple to grow on to be absolutely sure, but the fact is, I AM sure already. If it's going to seed about I'll have to dispose of it though it's such a good plant for late summer/autumn colour and even now, there are a few flowers.

[Ezeiza]

Lesley, are you sure it is the Chilean Oxalis lobata and not the Argentinian O. perdicaria? The Mediterranean one and not the year round rainfall fellow?

[Ray]

Hi Lesley,the same thing happen to me with O lobata,and its all gone to garden heaven.
Oxalis gracilis.bye Ray

[Ezeiza]

That's the point, Ray. Oxalis lobata should be at home with you and O. perdicaria would dry off to death.

[Lesley Cox]

Well I've always had it as Oxalis lobata but there was the article in a recent AGS Bulletin that said they are the same thing and that the name perdicaria has precedence. Is this not so? I'd rather call it lobata. But the point is that never having given a seedling in 40 years or more, this year there are hundreds, I assume from seed made in 2010. It comes up in early autumn, starting to bloom almost right away, and stays green until late spring I think. I haven't really noted when it is green but will do so from now on.

[Ezeiza]

Fact is that there is a precedence by the name perdicaria, botanically. Lobata is like a smaller, more compact perdicaria. From the cultivation point, they are very different plants; lobata comes from Chile where it is dormant in summer under completely dry conditions, like a Cape bulb.

The old perdicaria comes from the pampas where it is dormant in summer as well but enjoys year round rainfall even when it is dormant and this keeps the bulb plump. Many photos of perdicaria show a plant dying for a drink!

Your comments are very interesting, something changed that triggered seed production. Perhaps someone else has a second plant in the neighborhood?

[Ray]

Hi Alberto,my O lobata went to heaven because I sent it there,it started to self seed so it got the axe.
Another oxalis that I had for years is and never self seeded but is now is O obtusa so it may be going to plant heaven also.bye Ray

[Lesley Cox]

I'd be surprised if anyone else has O. lobata locally. There are just a few houses round about and none belong to gardeners; horses, llamas, alpacas, pigs et al but precious few plants except perhaps a few roses. We had a very dry summer last year and for several previous, but this last summer has been cool and very damp.

[Roma]

First flower on Oxalis laciniata 'Sandy', a recent purchase.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Wow Roma !!!  What a stunning beauty !

[Lesley Cox]

That REALLY is something Roma! From the colour of the foliage and the chips, I would guess the colour is pretty true? Is this named for Sandy Leven?

[Peter II]

Oxalis depressa - South Africa

[Lesley Cox]

A lovely species but not for free ranging in the garden.