Oxalis triangularis " Cupido"

I have had this species for at least 8 years now and I love it. It is a pretty house plant with gorgeous maroon colour leaves that fold up - like an umbrella each night and unfurl each morning as the daylight dawns. Sometimes, a couple of leaves will argue with each other for the same space and you will catch a "shiver " happening.
It was so warm last Summer that I potted some up for the patio and they romped on. They are not hardy so will disappear once the Autumn temperature kicks in. I saved one of the corms and potted it up on 7th January. It surfaced about 10 days ago and more and more stalks have appeared . The 2 main house plants are in the unheated mini Green house out on the patio. They are resting and almost dormant. In March, I will tip the plants out and harvest maybe 20 corms from the compost of each. I'll post the result here and if there are loads you are welcome to some - we'll see how it goes.

the first is one of the indoor plants from last year
the second is the January corm - going to sleep at night
the third is the plant the next day

 

So cute the way it closes at night.

I'd love one!

 

The ones that you sent me all those years ago are still going strong. I grow it as a tender perennial outdoors.

 

I planted this some 15 or more years ago....persuaded the then gc manager to order some in.
I described its purple leaves and delightful pinky white flowers and convinced him
However, I have been trying to eradicate it ever since; it is not a huge problem but it appears in different locations often amid other perennials...perversely it often comes up in a clump of heuchera Obsidian despite it being lifted and divided several times
Clearly it is hardy down here and, yes, it looks lovely but

 

have a few of them

 

One of mine is planted at the base of a huge pot where a tall corn plant grows in it. It fills in that area nicely. Did find a pic of one in my downloads, its in bloom.

 

The Amish family that lives a few houses up the street, I have seen her plant them in ground as a edging. They are hardy for zone 7, not sure what she does as winter approaches. However, sometime if I have found one coming out of the soil, at my house, in the summer. But, have not chanced in ground totally. There are a lot of other plants out there to use.

 

That looks stunning Redstar.

 

Always learning something...I will try and grow this instead as an indoor plant or container plant much as Redstar has done

 

It likes a lot to drink ( must be the Irish shamrock heritage ) but apart from that, it earns its keep.

 

mine sits outside after last frost in May, and brought back in before first frost in fall. sometime when it gets too leggy, I just cut it all off to the ground. they come back just fine.

 

Yes, it likes its water. however, found that even if I neglect it and let it completely go bone dry, I just throw on couple cups and up it goes. In the summer, when its outside, I don't even fuss with it at all, it rains, it does not rain, whatever. have had this fellow for about 16 years or so.

 

This is the youngster I displayed in my first post on 1st February. It is flowering now.
When the wind goes away and I can get the parents from the mini GH and bring them indoors maybe Monday, I'll retrieve all the corms and show you them. If you want any,(5 in a 3" pot )
just PM me with your name and address details and I'll post some off to you,
Jenny

 

I stripped the corms from the 2 parent plants today and harvested these corms

I have bagged some up for anyone who wants them here on GC.
PM me if you do.