Oxalis tetraphylla, the clover that always has four leaves
Oxalis tetraphylla
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 8b (-9.4°C ≤ T° < -6.7°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
- Genus
- Oxalis
- Species
- Four-leaved Oxalis Oxalis tetraphylla
Other name:Oxalis deppei
Have four-leaf clovers invaded your garden? Wait a little before testing your luck. You're probably looking at a field of Oxalis tetraphylla. Native to Mexico, this plant belongs to the Oxalidaceae family. There's no guarantee that it will bring you luck, but its two-tone foliage will brighten up your flower beds.
How to recognize false four-leaf clover, Oxalis tetraphylla?
Oxalis tetraphylla measures no more than 20 centimetres in height, with the same wingspan. It's a bushy plant that can become an invasive ground cover when planted in the ground.
False four-leaf clover has no aerial stems. It grows from rhizomes. Each gives rise to a hairless petiole.
The leaves of Oxalis tetraphylla have four heart-shaped leaflets. Green, they are mottled purple at the base. Like those of oxalis triangularis and oxalis triangularis 'Atropurpurea', the leaf blades react to light. When night falls, they fold along the petiole. When the sun rises, they unfurl again.
False four-leaf clover flowers in spring. Its tubular flowers have five pink, red or white petals and a yellow or green center. They bloom in an umbel. Each inflorescence bears up to twelve flowers.
Oxalis tetraphylla leaves have a lemony taste. Although the plant is edible, it's best not to abuse it. It contains oxalic acid which, in high doses, causes digestive disorders and kidney dysfunction. Always keep it out of the reach of pets. If ingested, it is toxic and causes vomiting.
Our care tips
Oxalis tetraphylla are easy-going plants. They only need regular watering, except during the wintering period.
Watering
Water only when the substrate has dried on the surface (one or two centimeters).
Use non-calcareous water, such as rainwater or mineral water, at room temperature. Pour it over the soil, avoiding the foliage.
To prevent root rot, remove any water that collects in the dish or planter.
Misting
Spray foliage with non-calcareous water at room temperature. In addition to increasing humidity, misting prevents the appearance of undesirable insects.
Repotting
Every year in the spring, repot your Oxalis tetraphylla to give it more space.
Choose a pierced pot one size larger than the previous one. Pour a drainage layer (clay balls or gravel) in the bottom.
Add a layer of potting soil for green plants. Plant your Oxalis tetraphylla in the center. Top up with substrate.
Tamp and water to encourage rooting.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Oxalis tetraphylla, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
To stimulate the growth of your Four-leaved Oxalis, use a green plant fertilizer.
Prune
You can remove the yellowed leaves.
Pruning before wintering helps the plant regenerate.
Cut stems flush with the ground using pruning shears or scissors. Remember to clean your tools before use to prevent the spread of disease.
Planting
When the risk of frost has passed, it's time to plant.
Work the soil with a spade to a depth of about fifteen centimetres. You can enrich the soil with compost to encourage growth.
Plant the pseudobulbs five to eight centimetres underground. If you're planting several plants, space them ten centimetres apart.
Tamp to eliminate air bubbles and water for the first time to help the plants take root.
Taking cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Carefully dig up your plant. Locate a rhizome with roots and several leaves on its periphery.
Carefully separate it from the others using your hands or a clean, sharp tool.
You can multiply your Four-leaved Oxalis by taking stem cuttings. Place your stem in a glass of water at room temperature. Change the water regularly to keep it clear.
Whena bulb and roots appear on the immersed end, repot your graft.
Propagation by cuttings is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Carefully dig up your plant. Locate a rhizome with roots and several leaves on its periphery.
Carefully separate it from the others using your hands or a clean, sharp tool.
In a pierced pot, pour a bed of clay balls or gravel for drainage. Then top with potting soil for green plants.
Plant your bulb, taking care to point the tip upwards and the rhizomes downwards. The depth should be twice the size of the bulb.
Wintering
Oxalis tetraphylla are naturally at rest. When you notice that your plant is wilting and no longer producing new leaves, you can help it to go into dormancy.
Install your Four-leaved Oxalis in a dark room with a temperature between 5 and 12 degrees. A cellar or garage is ideal. Stop watering and fertilizing until the end of the wintering period.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubsPlanter
- Categories
- RhizomeHerbaceousFlowery
- Tags
- InvasiveFloweryToxicEdible flower
- Origin
- Central America
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 8b (-9.4°C ≤ T° < -6.7°C)
- Leaf colors
- Dark greenViolet
- Flower colors
- WhiteRedRose
Discover plants from the same family
Purple Shamrock
Oxalis triangularis
Purple shamrock
Oxalis triangularis 'Atropurpurea'
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
