Oxalis

We have scratched the surface with the number of Oxalis we have available, but nevertheless the colours range from white, various shades of pink and orange. The flowers have 5 petals, equal in size, often with a colour change towards the centre. In comparison to the foliage they are a good size. They open in sunny weather, but will remain closed at night or in dull weather. Foliage is arguably as attractive, each leaf with three lobes, like a clover leaf, or more. Some are spreading in nature, so careful thought about their site might  be needed or grow in pots! According to different sources there are around 500-600 different species to choose from. One is native to the UK, O. acetosella, our woodland sorrel. Also, from the Andes comes the O. tuberosa, oca. Grown for its edible tubers. An interesting alternative to the potato.

Oxalis species are typically visited and pollinated by small bees and flies, although in some species at least a proportion of flowers remain closed and self-pollinate, termed cleistogamy, and insurance policy against pollination failure earlier in the season. Especially the creeping, small yellow-flowered species (e.g. O. corniculata) can be persistent 'weeds', surviving most control attempts as tubers, but even they help to soften what can be soul-sapping hard landscaping and the cracks between paving slabs, providing a potential refuge for beneficial garden predators.