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Bright indirect to direct light indoors. It handles direct sun (right in the window where sun actually hits the leaves. A strong grow light 4-6 inches away can substitute) through a window well but can scorch if moved suddenly from low light (more than 8 feet from a window, or a north-facing room. A grow light 10-12 inches away works great if your windows are not cutting it) into harsh outdoor sun. Not suited for dark spots -- insufficient light produces leggy, weak stems and fewer flowers.Light
Water when 50-75% of the soil volume is dry. water thoroughly (water until it drains out the bottom. Empty the saucer after 30 minutes so the roots are not sitting in water) until it runs from drainage holes, then discard excess from the saucer to prevent root rot. In warmer months you will water more frequently; in winter, cut back significantly. Overwatering is a common mistake and leads to yellowing leaves and root rot.Water
40-60% humidity is the comfortable range. It tolerates average indoor conditions but benefits from a pebble tray or nearby humidifier in very dry rooms. Keep it away from heating vents that dry out the air rapidly.Humidity
65-75 degrees F (18-24 C) is ideal. Keep it away from cold drafts and air conditioning. It is not frost-hardy and should be brought indoors or have its tubers dug and stored before freezing temperatures arrive. Temperatures consistently above 75-80 F (24-27 C) can trigger dormancy.Temperature
easyDifficulty
Oxalis rubra plant

Red Oxalis

Oxalis rubra

Easy

Red Oxalis is a cheerful, clump-forming perennial herb growing 6-12 inches tall from a woody rhizome, with classic three-leaflet Oxalis foliage and a continuous parade of bright mauve-pink, five-petaled flowers with darker pink throats. The flowers open during the day and close at dusk or in cloudy weather, giving the plant a pleasantly predictable rhythm. It is notably less invasive than many Oxalis relatives, making it a genuinely good-mannered container or border plant.

Care Guide

How to grow Red Oxalis

Light

Bright indirect to direct light indoors.

Water

50-75%

Humidity

40-60%

Temperature

65-75 degrees F (18-24 C) is ideal.

Soil

Well-draining potting mix is essential.

Propagation

Divide tubers during the dormant

Common Problems

Root rot from overwatering is the main issue.

Did You Know

Fun Facts

Oxalis rubra was first formally described and named in 1825 by the French botanist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire in his landmark Flora Brasiliae Meridionalis -- a work documenting plants he collected during years of fieldwork in Brazil. The species has been through considerable taxonomic reshuffling since then and is also accepted as Oxalis articulata subsp. rubra.

Pet Safety

Toxic to pets

Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. All parts contain soluble calcium oxalates that bind to calcium in the body and can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and in significant ingestion, hypocalcemia and potential kidney damage. The ASPCA lists Oxalis species as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. The bitter taste deters most animals from eating large quantities, but keep it away from pets.

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