Oxalis versicolor or candy cane sorrel is a species of flowering plant in the family Oxalidaceae found in South Africa.[1]
A bulbous perennial, it grows to NaNcm (-2,147,483,648inches) forming a mound of fresh green leaves, each leaf composed of three elongated leaflets. In late summer and autumn, narrow white tubular buds form at the tip of slender stems. A curved scarlet edging to each petal gives the appearance of a candy cane. The flowers open in full sunlight, but remain furled at other times.[2]
In cultivation in the UK this plant is only completely hardy in mild or coastal areas, down to -5C. It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3] [4]
In the United States this plant grows up to 12 inches tall, prefers full to partial sun, blooms in the summer, and is hardy in USDA zones 7 – 9.[5]