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- Oxalis peduncularis cristata
Oxalis peduncularis cristata
Succulent prefers partial shade, but can be placed in full sun.
Always water a few days after the substrate has dried out, year round.
In the short term it can tolerate down to -3.9 °C. The plant is not hardy.
During prolonged periods of drought, individual leaves fall off. Only then does the succulent draw on the moisture stored in the corms.
Oxalis peduncularis cristata, also called Acetosella peduncularis,Oxalis longiscapa, or Oxalis umbellata, is a crested succulent. Crested are not very common in this genus, so it is a relatively valuable specimen. It is native to western South America (specifically Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia) where it grows on rocks at altitudes between 1 000 and 1 400 m above sea level.
The trifoliate leaves are green and the edges turn red in the sun. The leaves grow to about 5 mm in size and can be both glabrous and covered with fine hairs. The leaf apex is shallowly excised and the petioles are thickened. The firm, flat, reddish-brown stalk is about 1 cm thick. The stem eventually branches and the plant grows to a height of about 10-20 cm.
If flowers appear, they bloom only on the non-cristate tops. The yellow flowers grow in clusters and close at night.
It is a fairly thirsty plant and is watered more than other succulents. When there is a lack of moisture, the triple blades of leaves fall off first before drawing water from the thickened petioles. During the winter, we can put the plant to sleep by stopping watering and letting its leaves fall off for the winter. During the summer, it is again advisable to place the sorrel in the sun. Here the edges of the leaves will turn red and brighten up the otherwise year-round green plant. This is a unique collector's piece, as crested are not usually found in the world of sorrels.