About Oxalis adenophylla Gillies
Oxalis adenophylla, commonly called Chilean oxalis, silver shamrock, and other common names, is an alpine plant native to Argentina and Chile. In its native Chile, its distribution ranges from the Santiago Metropolitan Region to the Aysen Region. This species is most well known for its leaves, which are palmately divided into up to 22 leaflets and covered in silvery hairs. Its light pink flowers are wider than its leaves. Oxalis adenophylla is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 10. Outside of its native range, it is frequently planted in rock gardens, and it also grows well as a houseplant. In the United Kingdom, this plant has been awarded the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. It grows successfully in far-north locations including Sweden, Norway, and Nova Scotia, Canada, as well as in purely temperate regions. Its cold hardiness comes from its bulb, which has adapted to survive freezing temperatures while dormant. However, it is prone to winter rot when grown in temperate zones, an issue that does not occur in areas where the ground freezes over winter. It can tolerate some shade, but it produces the most blooms when grown in full sunlight.
