Collection Oxalis – Rare False Shamrocks to Buy Online
Discover our collection of rare oxalis — elegant false shamrocks with purple, variegated or green foliage, free-flowering and remarkably easy to grow. Botanical species and cultivars unavailable in garden centres: Oxalis triangularis with its butterfly-shaped purple leaves, O. vulcanicola with bronze copper foliage, O. bowiei with bright pink flowers, O. 'Plum Crazy' (Press Prize 2023)… Grown in our Loire-Atlantique greenhouses and shipped directly from our nursery. Browse also our other collection plants and our indoor plants.
The genus Oxalis encompasses over 900 species spread across every continent — a record in the plant kingdom. Despite this extraordinary diversity, only a handful of botanical species and rare cultivars truly deserve a place in a collection. These are precisely the ones we have selected and propagate in our greenhouses: oxalis that surprise with the beauty of their foliage, the originality of their form or the generosity of their flowering, and which you will never find in a large garden centre.
What is an oxalis?
Oxalis — commonly called false shamrock, lucky clover or wood sorrel — is a perennial bulbous or rhizomatous plant belonging to the family Oxalidaceae. Its name comes from the Greek oxys, meaning acid, referring to the slightly tart flavour of its leaves. These display a fascinating characteristic: they fold shut at night and in cloudy weather — a movement called nyctinasty — before reopening in sunlight. This living behaviour makes it as captivating to observe as it is ornamental.
The vast majority of collection oxalis are easily grown indoors, in a conservatory, on a sheltered balcony or terrace. They appreciate bright light without harsh direct sun, a well-drained substrate and moderate watering. Their winter dormancy period — during which the foliage disappears completely — often worries beginners: the plant is not dead, it is simply storing energy in its bulbs to return in spring more vigorous than ever.
Our collection oxalis varieties
Oxalis triangularis — the purple false shamrock
Oxalis triangularis is undoubtedly the star of the family. Its trilobed leaves of a deep, satiny purple, shaped like butterflies, make it one of the most elegant indoor plants available. In summer it produces delicate small pale pink flowers that contrast magnificently with its dark foliage. It grows from a bulb, requires little maintenance and proves perfect for bright indoor spaces or conservatories.
Oxalis triangularis 'Purple Shamrock'
A particularly remarkable selection of O. triangularis, with even more deeply purple foliage and a slightly more compact habit. Its pink flowers open generously throughout the growing season. Ideal in a pot on a bright windowsill or living room table.
Oxalis 'Plum Crazy' — Press Prize 2023
Our pride: Oxalis 'Plum Crazy' received the Press Prize at the spring 2023 edition at Château de Saint-Jean de Beauregard. This extraordinary cultivar displays a variegated pink and violet shamrock-shaped foliage, dense and colourful, that never goes unnoticed. Small and compact, it is perfectly suited to small spaces, conservatories and bright interiors. An easy-going, highly colourful plant, recognised by plant professionals.
Oxalis vulcanicola
Oxalis vulcanicola is a species native to the volcanic regions of Central America. Its bronze to copper, finely cut three-lobed foliage gives it a warm, luminous and highly original appearance. Bright yellow flowers that appear continuously against the bronzed foliage create a striking contrast. It is one of the few oxalis species tolerant of a sunnier position.
Oxalis bowiei
A botanical species native to South Africa, Oxalis bowiei is distinguished by its large, soft green trifoliate leaves and above all by its spectacular flowering: large magenta to bright pink flowers, carried in generous umbels, bloom in spring and summer. It is one of the most free-flowering oxalis in our collection.
Oxalis corymbosa variegata
A rare variegated form of Oxalis corymbosa — its trifoliate leaves display delicate marbling and pale zones on a green background, making each leaf a miniature painting. Abundant pink-lilac flowering in summer. A collector's piece for lovers of exceptional decorative foliage.
How to grow oxalis in a pot?
Light
Collection oxalis appreciate bright light but without harsh direct sun, especially in summer. A position near an east- or west-facing window is ideal. Oxalis vulcanicola is an exception and tolerates more direct sun exposure.
Compost and repotting
Use a light, free-draining substrate — general potting compost mixed with 20-30% sand or perlite. Oxalis dislike having their roots sitting in stagnant water. Repot every 2 years in spring, when the bulbs begin to feel cramped.
Watering
Water moderately during the growing period (spring-summer): allow the surface of the substrate to dry between waterings. During winter dormancy (foliage gone), reduce watering to a strict minimum — once a month is enough to keep the bulbs alive.
Winter dormancy
This is the aspect that surprises beginners most. In autumn, the foliage of most bulbous oxalis yellows and disappears completely. The plant enters dormancy. Do not throw the pot away. Place it somewhere cool with minimal watering. From spring onwards, the bulbs will resume spontaneously and the plant will return more vigorous than ever.
Feeding
A balanced liquid fertiliser every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season (April to September) is more than sufficient to achieve generous flowering and dense, colourful foliage.
Frequently asked questions about oxalis
Are oxalis invasive plants?
Wild species such as Oxalis corniculata can indeed be invasive in the garden. The collection oxalis we offer — notably O. triangularis, O. bowiei and the cultivars — behave very well in pots and show no invasive character whatsoever. Grown in containers, they remain perfectly contained.
Why are my oxalis leaves folding closed?
This is entirely normal and fascinating behaviour: oxalis fold their leaves at night, in cloudy weather or when they need water. This movement, called nyctinasty, is a natural protection mechanism. If the foliage remains folded during the day despite good light, check substrate moisture — the plant may need watering.
My oxalis has lost all its leaves — is it dead?
No, almost certainly not. The complete disappearance of foliage in autumn and winter is the natural dormancy of most bulbous oxalis. The bulbs are alive beneath the substrate. Reduce watering, place the pot somewhere cool and wait for spring: regrowth will be spontaneous and vigorous.
Can oxalis be planted in the ground?
Some species such as Oxalis bowiei can be planted in the ground in regions with mild climates (coastal areas, southern France and UK). In colder regions, container growing with overwintering under frost-free cover is preferable for all our collection varieties. Oxalis triangularis tolerates light occasional frosts but not prolonged cold below -5°C.
Browse also our rare iresines, our collection begonias and all our collection plants to complete your interior.