Oxalis green foliage white leaves
Pinkish-white flowers of Oxalis triangularis
Stems and leaves of Oxalis triangularis
False green clover in a pot
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Oxalis triangularis, a plant full of surprises
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
In the wild, Oxalis triangularis thrives in the wetlands of Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. It covers the banks of streams and marshes. In our latitudes, this false clover of the Oxalidaceae family is cultivated for its foliage and aniseed flavor.
How to recognize Oxalis triangularis?
Oxalis triangularis is a spreading herbaceous plant. It measures 30 centimetres high and 50 centimetres wide. The plant grows from tuberous roots covered with scales.
False clover has no aerial stems. Leaves grow in rosettes from the rhizomes. They are supported by long, soft white petioles.
The green leaf blades have three triangular leaflets with the tips pointing downwards. Some see a heart, others a butterfly. If you observe your plant carefully, you'll notice that the foliage of your triangular Oxalis changes during the day. When night falls, the weather cools or turns stormy, the limbs fold up like umbrellas. When the sun returns, they unfurl again.
Oxalis triangularis flowers from spring to autumn. The umbel-shaped inflorescence supports up to nine pale pink flowers. Each has a corolla with five rounded lobes and ten stamens.
False clover is edible. Its leaves, tubers and flowers can be eaten by humans. But be careful not to overindulge! Oxalis triangularis, like oxalis triangularis 'Atropurpurea' and oxalis tetraphylla, contains oxalic acid. In excessive quantities, this substance causes calcium deficiency, digestive disorders and kidney problems. The plant is considered toxic to animals. Ingestion causes vomiting.
Our maintenance tips
Oxalis triangularis are easy-going plants. They only need regular watering, except during the wintering period.
Watering
Water your Triangular Oxalis when the soil is dry on the surface, using non-calcareous water. The soil should remain slightly moist and fresh, especially in summer. But it must not be waterlogged, otherwise the roots may rot.
Spray
Mist foliage to increase humidity and repel pests. Always spray with rainwater. Tap water is too hard and leaves white marks on the leaves.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Oxalis triangularis to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
Oxalis triangularis are fast-growing plants. They need to be repotted every year.
Choose a pierced pot one size larger than the previous one. Fill the bottom with clay balls or gravel to promote drainage.
Then pour in potting soil for green plants. To make it lighter, you can mix it with sand or perlite.
Plant your Triangular Oxalis. Fill with substrate and tamp to remove air bubbles. Water for the first time straight away.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Supplement watering with a houseplant fertilizer to promote the development of your Oxalis triangularis.
If you have just repotted, wait six to eight weeks before starting to fertilize.
Prune
Cut dead leaves with a sharp, clean tool.
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.
Plantation
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can 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.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Carefully dig up your Triangular Oxalis. Locate a rhizome with at least two or three shoots. Separate it from the mother plant with a clean, sharp knife or pruning shears. Remove leaves, rhizome and roots.
You can multiply your Triangular 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.
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Carefully dig up your Triangular Oxalis. Locate a rhizome with at least two or three shoots. Separate it from the mother plant with a clean, sharp knife or pruning shears. Remove leaves, rhizome and roots.
Prepare a perforated pot lined with a drainage layer, such as gravel or clay balls. Then fill it with potting soil for green plants.
Plant your bulb in the center. Bury it at a depth of twice its size. Pay attention to the direction! The tip should face upwards and the rhizomes downwards.
Wintering
Oxalis triangularis 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 Triangular 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
| Family | Oxalidaceae - Oxalidaceae |
| Type | Oxalis - Oxalis |
| Species | Triangular Oxalis - Oxalis triangularis |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Exposures | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting methods |
Open ground In pots In tubs Planter |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Flowery Toxic Edible flower |
| Origin |
Central America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 9a |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower color |
|
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