Parochetus communis
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Parochetus communis• Click here to visit our Main Plant List page for current availability of this plant
• common names: blue oxalis, shamrock pea
• flowering season: summer
• height: 1 - 3 inches, spreading wider indefinitely
• Light requirements: sun, partial shade
• Soil requirements: average
• Water requirments: average
• Growth habit: low and spreading
• How to propagate: digging up a rooted runner
• Leaf type: clover-like leaves
• Ways to use it: edging taller flowering plants; in hanging baskets
Known as both blue oxalis and shamrock pea, this is native to the mountains of Africa and Asia. It is low at 1 to 3 inches tall and spreads widely to a couple of feet or more. The green leaves often have a circle pattern of dark red. The cobalt blue flowers are unbelievable at first sight. Flowers are produced for a long season. Plant it outdoors in the spring to give it a good start, and it will survive over winter to USDA Zone 8b. It is a very vigorous plant that will resprout from its roots if the top of the plant is killed. Potting up a piece of the plant to keep indoors over winter might be a good precaution against the possibility of loosing it. Blue oxalis is content to live planted in a pot year around. In a greenhouse it may well flower all winter. It adds nicely to a hanging basket or deck planter.