Good Luck Plant (Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross') in the Wood Sorrels Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic Dry Mesic Dry
Soil pH Preferences:	Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5) Neutral (6.6 – 7.3) Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Plant Height:	10-12 inches
Plant Spread:	6-8 inches
Leaves:	Deciduous Other: Green with dark central blotch
Fruit:	Other: Small capsule containing 4 to 5 seeds.
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	Pink
Bloom Size:	Under 1"
Flower Time:	Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall Other: Blooms intermittently throughout the year; some oxalis will bloom all year if given enough light
Underground structures:	Bulb
Suitable Locations:	Houseplant
Uses:	Groundcover Dried Flower Will Naturalize Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant:	Birds
Resistances:	Humidity tolerant
Toxicity:	Other: All plants containing oxalic acid can be toxic to humans if enough is ingested.
Propagation: Other methods:	Division Offsets Bulbs Other: bulblets, tubers
Pollinators:	Various insects
Containers:	Suitable in 1 gallon Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Suitable for hanging baskets Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous:	Goes Dormant

Common names

Good Luck Plant
Wood-Sorrel

Botanical names

Accepted: Oxalis tetraphylla
Synonym: Oxalis deppei

Photo Gallery

Location: Virginia
Date: 2021-04-02
First bloom, growing indoors

Uploaded by Bschmuck

Location: Cincinnati, OH
Date: 2011-09-11

Uploaded by henryr10

Uploaded by bumplbea

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2018-07-17
Leaf and bloom

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-07-14

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2021-05-23
Limited year-to-year return in my zone 7b garden, which is colder

Uploaded by LoriMT

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-06-30

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-06-06

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-05-30

Uploaded by LoriMT

Uploaded by foraygardengirl

Location: Fairfax, VA | March, 2023
Date: 2023-03-12

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-07-23

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-10-03

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Cincinnati, OH
Date: 2011-09-10

Uploaded by henryr10

Uploaded by pixie62560

Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2008-05-21

Uploaded by Joy

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2008-07-25

Uploaded by bonitin

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Mysore, India
Date: 2011
A friend brought a few bulbs over to me from England. Happy they

Uploaded by Dinu

Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2022-06-30

Uploaded by DebbieC

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2011-10-12

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-11-10

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-06-16

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Cincinnati, OH
Date: 2005-09-18

Uploaded by henryr10

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2006-08-05

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: My garden in Kalama, Wa. Zone 8

Uploaded by Joy

Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-06-10

Uploaded by DebbieC

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-04-20

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-06-04

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2011-05-05

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2009-06-03

Uploaded by bonitin

Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2008-06-23

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-06-05

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: Sangamon Co. Il.
Date: 2018-05-21

Uploaded by Deby

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: Feb 18, 2012
Photo taken at Al's Garden Center, Woodburn, Oregon

Uploaded by valleylynn

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Tiff2884

Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 9/17/2011

Uploaded by SongofJoy

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by LoriMT (Dawsonville, GA - Zone 8a) on May 30, 2022 9:12 AM concerning plant:

In my zone 7b North Georgia Mountains garden, this late spring bloomer gets over powered by daylilies, lilies, hostas, and other glitzy bloomers. Rather than forming a big clump like common Oxalis, this "Iron Cross" variety stays small and has faded away in most of the places where I planted it. For some of the remaining leaves, the deep purple cross has receded to a thin outline.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
Catmint20906	On June 26, 2015	Bloomed
Catmint20906	On June 13, 2015	Plant emerged
Catmint20906	On May 25, 2015	Miscellaneous Event bulbs planted
dragonfetti	On January 12, 2015	Obtained plant From $1 store; 5 bulbs.
AtaMaj	On April 1, 2022	Obtained plant planted bulbs

» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Beautiful!!! by Ridesredmule	Oct 12, 2011 12:18 PM	1

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Wood Sorrels Good Luck Plant (Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross')

Wood Sorrels

Good Luck Plant (Oxalis tetraphylla 'Iron Cross')