About Oxalis versicolor L.
Oxalis versicolor, commonly known as candy cane sorrel, is a flowering plant species belonging to the family Oxalidaceae, native to South Africa. It is a bulbous perennial that grows 8–15 cm (3.1–5.9 in) tall, and forms a mound of fresh green leaves; each leaf is made up of three elongated leaflets. In late summer and autumn, narrow white tubular buds develop at the tips of slender stems. A curved scarlet edge on each petal gives the flower the appearance of a candy cane. The flowers open only in full sunlight, and stay furled at all other times. When cultivated in the United Kingdom, this plant is only fully hardy in mild or coastal regions, and can tolerate temperatures down to −5 °C (23 °F). It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. When grown in the United States, this plant reaches up to 12 inches tall, prefers full to partial sun, blooms during the summer, and is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9.
