Oxalis versicolor or candy cane sorrel is a species of flowering plant in the family Oxalidaceae found in South Africa.[1]
| Candy cane sorrel | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Oxalidales |
| Family: | Oxalidaceae |
| Genus: | Oxalis |
| Species: | O. versicolor
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| Binomial name | |
| Oxalis versicolor | |
A bulbous perennial, it grows to 8–15 cm (3.1–5.9 in) forming a mound of fresh green leaves, each leaf composed of three elongated leaflets. In late summer and autumn, narrow white tubular buds form at the tip of slender stems. A curved scarlet edging to each petal gives the appearance of a candy cane. The flowers open in full sunlight, but remain furled at other times.[2]
In cultivation in the UK this plant is only completely hardy in mild or coastal areas, down to −5 °C (23 °F). It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3][4]
In the United States this plant grows up to 12 inches tall, prefers full to partial sun, blooms in the summer, and is hardy in USDA zones 7 – 9.[5]
References
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- ^ "Oxalis versicolor". Tropicos.
- ^ "Oxalis versicolor (candy cane sorrel)". Gardenia.net. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "RHS Plantfinder – Oxalis versicolor". Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ "AGM Plants – Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 70. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- ^ Spring 2021 Garden Catalog. Bloomington, IL: Burgess Seed & Plant Co. 2021. p. 20.
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