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Oxalis latifolia

garden pink sorrel

A clump-forming perennial to 20cm with mid-green leaves composed of three, fishtail-shaped leaflets. Small clusters of pink flowers appear in summer

Synonyms

Oxalis stipulata
Oxalis stipularis

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Oxalidaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Oxalis can be annuals or perennials, with fibrous, bulbous or rhizomatous rootstocks, palmately divided leaves and funnel-shaped or bowl-shaped flowers that mostly close in dull weather and at night
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grows from a scaly bulb, but also produces fleshy storage roots, rhizomes and fibrous roots. Persistent, and able to spread quickly via bulbils if soil is disturbed so best confined to a container, though can also self seed. May be grown as a houseplant. See oxalis for more information

Propagation

Propagate by separating bulbils or propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails outdoors

Diseases

May be susceptible to rust diseases

Get involved

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