Red Oxalis
Oxalis rubra
Red Oxalis is a cheerful, clump-forming perennial herb growing 6-12 inches tall from a woody rhizome, with classic three-leaflet Oxalis foliage and a continuous parade of bright mauve-pink, five-petaled flowers with darker pink throats. The flowers open during the day and close at dusk or in cloudy weather, giving the plant a pleasantly predictable rhythm. It is notably less invasive than many Oxalis relatives, making it a genuinely good-mannered container or border plant.
How to grow Red Oxalis
Bright indirect to direct light indoors.
50-75%
40-60%
65-75 degrees F (18-24 C) is ideal.
Well-draining potting mix is essential.
Divide tubers during the dormant
Root rot from overwatering is the main issue.
Fun Facts
Oxalis rubra was first formally described and named in 1825 by the French botanist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire in his landmark Flora Brasiliae Meridionalis -- a work documenting plants he collected during years of fieldwork in Brazil. The species has been through considerable taxonomic reshuffling since then and is also accepted as Oxalis articulata subsp. rubra.
Toxic to pets
Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. All parts contain soluble calcium oxalates that bind to calcium in the body and can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and in significant ingestion, hypocalcemia and potential kidney damage. The ASPCA lists Oxalis species as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The bitter taste deters most animals from eating large quantities, but keep it away from pets.
Sources
- Good Luck Plant (Oxalis) - ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants (opens in new tab)ASPCA
- Good Luck Plant (Oxalis) - ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants (opens in new tab)ASPCA
- Oxalis articulata subsp. rubra - Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder (opens in new tab)Botanical Garden
- Oxalis 101: How to Care for Oxalis Plants - Bloomscape (opens in new tab)Reference
- Oxalis 101: How to Care for Oxalis Plants - Bloomscape (opens in new tab)Reference
- Oxalis articulata subsp. rubra - Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder (opens in new tab)Reference
- Oxalis rubra - Wikipedia (opens in new tab)Reference
- Pink Sorrel (Oxalis Rubra) Plant Care and How to Grow - Plantiary (opens in new tab)Reference
- Pink Sorrel (Oxalis Rubra) Plant Care and How to Grow - Plantiary (opens in new tab)Reference
- Oxalis rubra - Wikipedia (opens in new tab)Peer-Reviewed