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Oxalidaceae
Cape Sorrel
Oxalis pes-caprae
Tenacity and spreading joy.
- Family
- Oxalidaceae
- Genus
- Oxalis
- Native to
- South Africa
- Bloom season
- Winter, Spring
- Type
- bulb
- Height
- 0.5-1 ft
- Sunlight
- full sun to part shade
- Soil
- any well-drained soil
- Water
- low
- Hardiness
- 8-11
- Lifespan
- perennial
Did you know
- Cape sorrel is one of the world's most invasive plants, having colonized every continent except Antarctica.
- A single plant can produce up to 20 underground bulbils per year, making eradication nearly impossible.
- The leaves contain oxalic acid and have a tart, lemony flavor; they were historically eaten in small quantities as a salad green.
- Cape sorrel was accidentally introduced to the Mediterranean region in the 18th century, likely through contaminated soil in plant shipments.
- The flowers close at night and on cloudy days, a behavior called nyctinasty, controlled by changes in light and temperature.
Color meanings
0
persistence
1
brightness