I planted two strawberry shamrocks, which looked fabulous until about a week or so ago. They were perfectly formed clumps of shamrocks with a gazillion little pink blooms on them. They don’t run, and they’ll keep coming back.
Now, they look like someone took a nap on them. They’re all flattened out and stringy looking. Can I cut these back and expect them to fill in again this season with perfect little flowered clumps again?
They have wee storage organs underground and will continue popping up new leaves nigh unto forever. Taste the leaves when you cut them, some are reminiscent of Granny Smith apples and good on salad.
Thank you! How short should I cut them? They stand about 6-8" tall now, with the flower strandley things prolly about 10" long.
The leaves orginate unbranched from underground. I would pick out young leaves that have not yet opened and cut around them, snipping everything else off at ground level. I’ve grown the purple one, Oxalis triangularis, for many years and have found them to be indestructible.
Perfect! Thanks. I’ll do one for now and see what happens. Thanks a mil!
My pleasure. Don’t forget to uproot a few of the bulbils when they are established to give away to friends. It’s a good porch plant and easy to share.
They’ll go dormant if kept inside but will bust out when spring arrives.
Not just yet…I have a veeery long hedge that I’m planting these in front of, and I’m hoping to fill about a dozen spots before I let any of them go. Plant Store Lady told me I shouldn’t try to split them up until next year.
Plant Store Lady is wise beyond her ears. I thought I’d tucked a ‘next spring’ in there somewhere.
I couldn’t actually see any “young” leaves on my plant. They all looked the same shade of green and same size. I cut the whole thing down :eek: but I trust you’re right and expect to see it all lively and perfectly clumped before the end of summer. I hope I hope I hope.
I really should be fine. If you have a somewhat shaded area the leaves are probably already formed for brighter nursery conditions. The stretching, known as etiolation, was just reaching for the sun. The newer leaves will develop their internal structure to match local conditions. This is why ficus trees go haywire when you move them about. Of course, if you put them in a really sunny location, this reply is hogwash and you should disregard it.
Many Oxalis are noxious weeds. The resilience of the bulbils in concert with explosive seed dispersal aids their success. The ornamantal ones are rarely, if ever, a problem.
It’s a very shady area. They might get an hour or so of morning sun, then it’s all shade. Interesting plant! I was really looking for the bright burst of color, and boy, did I get it! I’ve got some pink toad lillies planted right near it, and they’re thriving as well. I’m very happy with this small corner of the long stretch of hedge.
Can I separate toad lillies? They’re adorable but I don’t want to hurt them. The plants came back very well. Super thick and strong leaves.
Toad lilies, Tricyrtis, are good candidates for gently prising apart. Some are more vigorous than others, but I got mine by sneaking a piece from a garden’s walkway and leaving it in my pocket for several hours.
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