Oxalis--TOW
Mary Sue Ittner (Sat, 15 Nov 2003 08:11:38 PST)

Dear All

Thanks Robin for establishing the name we should be calling the plant we
have been discussing. Is it from tropical Africa or South America or do we
know?

I quickly filled up the area of my garden that is protected from the rain
so many things that might like less rain get tested. What I have found
surprising is that most of the South African Oxalis seem able to cope with
my excessive winter rainfall here in Northern California even when they are
from areas that are quite dry. This is true of Oxalis obtusa. Oxalis
ambigua which is a white flowered species from South Africa that blooms in
the fall is an exception. It has started out nicely and looked horrible
after being rained on (and hailed on once) so I keep it in my sheltered area.

I would suspect that some of the Oxalis that don't bloom for me could be
unhappy with the extra rain and cooler summers but they still grow. I have
found that some species can tolerate being planted in shallow pots and
bloom wonderfully while others really need a deep pot to bloom reliably.
Michael Vassar alerted me to that.

Mary Sue

Mary Sue Ittner
California's North Coast
Wet mild winters with occasional frost
Dry mild summers