What Types of Oxalis Are There? With a Complete Picture Guide

Plants of the genus Oxalis are widely distributed throughout the world except in the polar regions, and have evolved into a vast family with more than 800 species. The vast majority of oxalis are small bulbous flowers, with fleshy bulbs or tubers as roots. There are only a dozen or so varieties of spring-planted oxalis, and their ornamental value is generally not high either. Autumn-planted bulbous oxalis, on the other hand, is rich in variety, with more than 500 horticultural cultivars currently in China. Below, let us take a look at what types of oxalis there are, with a complete picture guide.

I. What Types of Oxalis Are There?

There are many types of oxalis, such as purple-leaf oxalis, triangular oxalis, mountain oxalis, upright oxalis, fire fern oxalis, yellow-flowered oxalis, red-flowered oxalis, white-flowered oxalis, bulbiferous oxalis, glandular-leaf oxalis, Brazilian oxalis, four-leaf oxalis, large-flowered oxalis, many-flowered oxalis, golden-net oxalis, silver-spotted oxalis, creeping oxalis, and hibiscus oxalis. Below, let us look at introductions of a few common ones:

1. Purple-leaf oxalis

Purple-leaf oxalis is also called purple butterfly. The plant height is about 15-30cm, with fleshy roots and bulbs, yellowish-brown in color. Its biggest feature is that the leaves are purplish-red, the flowering period is from May to November, and it has no seeds.

2. Mountain oxalis

Mountain oxalis is also called three-piece tile. The plant height is 5-14cm, the small flowers are white, and the flowering period is from May to August. It grows in mountainous areas, is cold-resistant and drought-resistant, and has strong adaptability. In northern regions it can be used on a large scale to beautify gardens.

3. Triangular oxalis

Triangular oxalis is also called large mountain oxalis. The plant height is 5-10cm, the leaves are inverted-triangular, the flowers are white, the flowering and fruiting periods are from May to June, and the leaves are tender green. The whole plant can be used as medicine and eaten.

4. Upright oxalis

Upright oxalis is also called three-six-nine. The plant height is about 12-30cm, with upright stems, and the leaves are broadly obcordate. The flowering period is from May to September, and the fruiting period is from June to September. It is also an alpine variety.

II. How to Plant Oxalis?

1. To cultivate oxalis, the first step is to choose the soil for cultivation. The soil can be a mixture of perlite and peat moss. Actually, the simplest garden soil can also be used, but it must be ensured that the oxalis has a certain degree of water permeability and also a certain degree of air permeability.

2. For the choice of sowing time, summer is the best time to sow oxalis, especially around June. Oxalis sown at this time can develop and bloom at the fastest speed, and the weather at this time is most suitable for the growth of oxalis.

3. As for watering oxalis, it is best to water once every three days, and after sowing oxalis, it must be watered immediately, otherwise the oxalis will fail to sprout because it cannot absorb enough water. Do not water oxalis frequently, otherwise it will cause root rot in the oxalis.

4. During the growth process of oxalis, there will be a dormant period. At this time, the oxalis will show yellow leaves and will quickly wither and die. At this time, you only need to place the oxalis in a cool place, and afterward the oxalis will produce new buds and bloom new flowers.

5. When fertilizing oxalis, special attention should be paid to the fact that when preparing the soil for cultivating oxalis, some impurities need to be mixed in, so that the oxalis can absorb sufficient water. Also, when the oxalis has taken root and sprouted, you can choose to water the oxalis with some rice-washing water. The water used to wash rice contains unique nutrients and can play a certain role in the growth of oxalis.