Midnight Butterfly Oxalis Bulbs

Oxalis triangularis — Midnight Butterfly. In low light the leaves of this one are almost black. Put it in a bright window and the colour opens up into a deep violet with a visible vein pattern — the same plant, two different looks, depending on where you stand.

The flowers are lilac rather than pink, and the stems are dark too, so the whole plant stays in one tonal range.

It is the selection to pair with a pale or concrete pot, where the darkness of the foliage does the work and you do not need a flower to make the point.

What you get

• Near-black foliage in shade, deep violet in bright light.
• Lilac flowers on dark stems — a single tonal range.
• Strong veining visible where light passes through the leaf.
• 6–12 in, suited to a bright windowsill or a sheltered patio pot.
• Dormant corms, graded and cleaned before dispatch.

How to grow it

• Plant: 1–2 in / 3–5 cm deep, pointed end up, 3–4 in apart in a pot with drainage. Soak the corms for an hour first — they wake up faster.
• Light: bright, indirect light or a few hours of morning sun. Strong light keeps the purple deep; deep shade turns the leaves green.
• Water: keep evenly moist while growing, then let the top inch dry between waterings. Never leave the pot standing in water.
• Temperature: 60–75°F indoors. Hardy outdoors in USDA zones 8–11; elsewhere grow it in a pot and bring it in before frost.
• Dormancy: the leaves die back every few months — that is normal, not death. Stop watering for 4–6 weeks, then start again and it regrows from the corms.

Shipped dormant as graded corms, cleaned and ready to plant. Dispatch in 5–7 working days. Leaf colour and flower shade vary with light, season and the age of the corm — the first flush after planting is usually the darkest. Keep away from cats and dogs: oxalis is high in oxalic acid and is not pet-safe if chewed.