Oxalis zeekoevleyensis is a striking and uncommon species known for its delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers in soft pink to lavender hues that rise above charming, clover-like foliage. Native to the wetlands near Zeekoevlei, just outside Cape Town in South Africa’s Western Cape. Picture hippopotamus grazing near flocks of egrets and you have the habitat.
This species is adapted to seasonally moist habitats where it experiences wet winters and dry summers. It thrives in well-drained soil and benefits from a dry dormancy period during summer. This winter-growing bulb performs beautifully in containers, alpine troughs, or rock gardens with full sun to light shade exposure. Blooming from fall into mid winter, although for me it’s trending towards late winter, some growers report mixed bloom times. plants typically reach a height of 4 to 6 inches. Water needs are moderate during active growth, with little to no irrigation required during dormancy. Best suited to USDA Zones 9–11, O. zeekoevleyensis should be protected from hard frost, but it has survived temps to 12 degrees in Salem, Oregon in an unheated greenhouse.
A true collector’s plant with limited availability, it’s ideal for those looking to add a unique and regionally rare species to their collection.
Photo by Mary Sue Ittner
Oxalis zeekoevleyensis is a striking and uncommon species known for its delicate, trumpet-shaped flowers in soft pink to lavender hues that rise above charming, clover-like foliage. Native to the wetlands near Zeekoevlei, just outside Cape Town in South Africa’s Western Cape. Picture hippopotamus grazing near flocks of egrets and you have the habitat.
This species is adapted to seasonally moist habitats where it experiences wet winters and dry summers. It thrives in well-drained soil and benefits from a dry dormancy period during summer. This winter-growing bulb performs beautifully in containers, alpine troughs, or rock gardens with full sun to light shade exposure. Blooming from fall into mid winter, although for me it’s trending towards late winter, some growers report mixed bloom times. plants typically reach a height of 4 to 6 inches. Water needs are moderate during active growth, with little to no irrigation required during dormancy. Best suited to USDA Zones 9–11, O. zeekoevleyensis should be protected from hard frost, but it has survived temps to 12 degrees in Salem, Oregon in an unheated greenhouse.
A true collector’s plant with limited availability, it’s ideal for those looking to add a unique and regionally rare species to their collection.
Photo by Mary Sue Ittner
