Iron Cross

(Oxalis tetraphylla)

Iron Cross (Oxalis tetraphylla)

Wildfeuer

CC BY-SA 3.0

Image By: Wildfeuer

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Wildfeuer | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Wildfeuer | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: 2007-07-01Oxalis_tetraphylla02.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description=Pachycormus discolor, Elephant Tree, Copalquín, Torote blanco, photo taken California Desert, Cataviña region, Mexico |Source=Own work |Date= |Author=Tomás Castelazo |Permission=Larger image upon request for a fee, ex |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Oxalis tetraphylla, commonly known as Iron Cross, is a deciduous perennial bulb native to open woodlands and grassy areas in Central America and Mexico. It typically grows to a height of 0.5-1 feet and a width of 0.3-0.5 feet. The plant is characterized by its distinctive clover-like leaves, which are green with a purple center resembling an iron cross, and its bright pink flowers that bloom in the spring and summer, adding a splash of color to gardens. The flowers are moderately showy and attract pollinators. Iron Cross is particularly noted for its sharp lemon-flavored leaves and flowers, which are edible in moderation due to the presence of oxalic acid.

In cultivation, Iron Cross is valued for its unique foliage and is commonly used for edging, ground cover, and as an ornamental in patio containers. It is easy to grow and maintain, thriving in full sun to part shade and preferring soils with medium to fast drainage, such as chalk, clay, loam, or sandy types. While additional nutrients are generally unnecessary, slow-release fertilizers or NPK 5-10-5 can be applied in late spring to encourage blooming. The bulbs can multiply by autumn and may survive mild winters; however, in regions with harsh frosts, they should be overwintered in a cool, dry place and replanted in spring. Water requirements are low to medium, making it a drought-tolerant option once established.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Bulb
Height: 0.5-1 feet
Width: 0.3-0.5 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Pink, Red
Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Low, Medium
Drainage: Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Groundcover, Low Maintenance, Rock Garden, Showy Flowers

Natural Habitat

Open woodlands and grassy areas

Other Names

Common Names: Iron Cross Plant, Four-Leaf Pink-Sorrel, Good-Luck-Leaf, Lucky-Clover, Glücksklee, Vierblättriger Sauerklee, Geluksklaver, Rosettoxalis

Scientific Names: , Oxalis deppei, Oxalis tetraphylla, Oxalis tetraphylla var. tetraphylla, Oxalis cuernavacana, Oxalis tlalpamensis, Oxalis esculenta, Ionoxalis cuernavacana, Ionoxalis scopulorum, Oxalis chiriquensis

GBIF Accepted Name: Oxalis tetraphylla Cav.