Velvet Violet Oxalis Bulbs

Oxalis triangularis — Velvet Violet. Most purple oxalis has a slight sheen. This selection does not — the leaf surface is matte, and light sinks into it instead of bouncing off. The result is a purple that looks like velvet under a lamp.

It grows low and wide rather than tall, spreading sideways into a soft mound, which suits a shallow bowl far better than a tall pot.

The flowers are pure white and star-shaped, five clean petals, and they sit just above the foliage rather than on tall stalks.

What you get

• Matte, velvet-textured leaves in deep violet.
• Low spreading habit — 6–8 in tall, wider than it is high.
• White star-shaped flowers through the growing season.
• Folds at night like all Oxalis triangularis.
• Dormant corms for reliable re-sprouting.

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.