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Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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Posted by christinmk z5b eastern WA (My Page) on
Fri, Jan 24, 14 at 21:33

Anyone have experience growing this guy? The hardiness ratings for it are all over the map. My wholesale catalog lists it at a z3, while several reviews say it needs to be overwintered indoors even in z5! Then there are the sites that say it is more of a z7/8 plant. Grrrr...

Do you find it to be reliably hardy in z5 or not? Is it truly a non-invasive oxalis? Do you have it in full sun and is that preferable to a shaded site?
CMK

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RE: Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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I'm sorry, I dont have much to contribute but I'd also like to hear from people that grow it! My mother brought me home two little baggies of 'Iron Cross' bulbs and I simply planted them like the directions said without any special treatment and nothings happening...best way to get these going? I also tried a pot of them in the unheated mini greenhouse to see if the cold from winter will help them come up in spring....
~Michael

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RE: Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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I cannot help with the hardiness issue, but I do know that they are not invasive, unlike others of their tribe.
Here in the Mediterranean, we have a massive problem with the South African Oxalis pes-caprea. It has taken over the entire island of Crete.
When I moved in to this little house, I waited a whole year before planting to make sure I had eradicated all of it from my garden. Huh... I need not have bothered. It has seeded back in from the surrounding area and is now a nightmare.

My daughter sent me a mixed box of bulbs from England last September including Oxalis Iron Cross.
It is strange, but even though I know that they are not invasive, I cannot bring myself to plant them in the garden.
I planted some in pots and they were up and flowering by November. They are lovely, very pretty. Now they have finished flowering, I am looking at the pots of very attractive foliage, wondering what to do with them.
I still cannot bring myself to plant them out in the garden.
Completely irrational I know.
Daisy

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RE: Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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  • Posted by dbarron Z6/7 (Oklahoma) (My Page) on
    Sun, Jan 26, 14 at 10:05

I also planted them in zone 6b to 7a, and they didn't overwinter.

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RE: Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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-Daisy, I feel your angst in planting other oxalis. Over here O. corniculata is a real pest. Last year I was kind of tempted by an O. rosea offered at a local plant sale, but chickened out. LOL.

-dbarron, thank you for your comment on hardiness! I was a little suspicious of my catalog hardiness rating....
CMK

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RE: Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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They have overwintered here for maybe 10 years & multiplied somewhat, not aggressively. I will be looking for them this spring, our temps have gotten below 0 several times this year. We've been in the single digits since they have been planted, & there was a reduced number of them the following year, this might be the year they don't come back.

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RE: Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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-ngraham, appreciate the info. Do you have yours in a sheltered or open situation? If you have the time, would you maybe post again come spring and let us know if they survived?
CMK

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RE: Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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I'll try & remember to let you know. They are always late to show up, so will be a while, I'm thinking late May. If I forget, you might shoot me an email to remind me. I have several different varieties, none have been aggressive for me, & a couple I don't expect to return this spring. Mine are fairly close to my house, but on the north side & unprotected by shrubs or larger plants.

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RE: Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross'

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-ngraham, many thanks! ;-)
CMK

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