Oxalis corymbosa
| Oxalis corymbosa | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 0.5' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer-Early Fall |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Oxalis corymbosa (common name: lilac oxalis)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Cultivation: Easily grown in a sandy soil in a warm dry position[1].
Plants are not very hardy in Britain according to one report which lists this plant as succeeding in climatic zone 9 and thus only tolerating occasional light frosts[2]. However, it is naturalized in parts of Britain, especially near London[3]. It is growing well in our Cornwall site, where it has proved to be hardy since 1994[K].
Range: S. America. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat: A weed of disturbed ground and gardens in Britain, especially near London[3].
Edibility: Leaves and leafstalks - raw or cooked[4]. Use in moderation, see notes at top of sheet.
Flowers - raw. A pleasant acid flavour, they make an ornamental addition to a mixed salad[K].
Root - raw. Sweet, crisp and succulent[4][5].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The leaves contain oxalic acid, which gives them their sharp flavour. Perfectly all right in small quantities, the leaves should not be eaten in large amounts since oxalic acid can bind up the body's supply of calcium leading to nutritional deficiency. Th
Also Known As: O. martiana.
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cribb, Alan and Joan Cribb. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana, 1976.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.