Oxalis oregana
Oregon Oxalis (aka Redwood Sorrel) is a semi-evergreen, highly attractive ground cover ideal for woodland gardens. In shady undergrowth, its cheerful shamrock-shaped leaves stick around for most of the year, forming delicate carpets reminiscent of fairy tales. Singular small white blooms suspend above the leaves on a slender stalk.
- Plant type/canopy layer: deciduous perennial herbaceous plant/ground cover
- Size at maturity: 8” tall, spreading laterally via rhizomes
- Light requirements: part sun/part shade, full shade
- Moisture requirements: moist to dry soil, well-drained
- Bloom time: March - September
- Growth rate/ease: moderate growth rate, easy to grow
- Wildlife support: attracts and provides nectar for adult butterflies, bees and other insect pollinators, caterpillar host plant/larval food source
- Native habitat/range: Common in moist Douglas-fir and coast redwood forests from the western cascades to the coast, from British Columbia south to California. Portland Plant List - yes.
- Special features & uses: groundcover, semi-evergreen, woodland garden, pollinator garden, edible. The tangy leaves are eaten by Native Americans in small quantities since they contain mildly toxic oxalic acid.
Gardening with Oregon Oxalis: Oxalis is ideal under conifers and other overstory trees and shrubs and can spread happily in acidic well-drained soils high in organic matter. It pairs well with native ferns, salal, snowberry and countless other shade-loving small shrubs and perennials.
Photo Credits 1 & 2: Tara Lemezis, Tiny Seed Photography
Photo Credits 3 - 8: Nikkie West, Sparrowhawk Native Plants