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Native Plant Database

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Oxalis violacea (Violet woodsorrel)
Loughmiller, Campbell and Lynn

Oxalis violacea L.

Violet woodsorrel, Violet wood-sorrel

Oxalidaceae (Wood-Sorrel Family)

USDA Symbol: OXVI

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This is an erect, delicate plant up to 16 inches tall. The long-stemmed leaves grow from the base and at first are longer than the flowering stem. They are divided into 3 leaflets, gray-green to bluish-gray above and green to reddish-purple below, but similar in structure to those of O. dillenii. Like those of all wood sorrels the leaves fold downward, together, at night and in cloudy weather. There are 4–19 flowers at the end of each stem, lavender to pinkish-purple, the eye of the flower usually a deeper purple. The wide-spreading petal-like lobes are 1/2–3/4 inch long. There are 5 petals and 10 stamens.

This is a very common woodland and moist prairie species, which is cultivated occasionally in the North. It spreads rapidly by runners from its bulbs, and often flowers again in autumn after the leaves have died.

Oxalis is from the Greek word meaning sour.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Violet
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV , WY
Native Distribution: Massachusetts and New York; south to Florida; west to Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and beyond our range.
Native Habitat: Usually sandy open woods, banks, rocky ground, prairies.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), PR(I)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil Description: Loam

Benefit

Attracts: Birds

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Toadshade Wildflower Farm - Frenchtown, NJ

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Oxalis violacea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Oxalis violacea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Oxalis violacea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-06-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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