OXALIS LUTEOLA

Sandsuring | Golden Sorrel

INTRODUCTION

Oxalis luteola is a bright yellow flower, happily blooming in the sunshine. Nope, she doesn’t like cold weather and she certainly doesn’t like it when it is overcast.

Oxalis luteola grows in sandy soil, so we find it all over Rooiels. It has short stems, but when the sun shines, you can’t miss it — a bit like Cheslin Kolbe on the rugby field.

NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE

The bulb of the Golden Sorrel has a gummy outer layer to which sandy particles stick. This makes it difficult for baboons or porcupines to smell them and decide to dig them up for a meal.

LET THEM GROW

Each flower is borne singly. Once pollinated, it bends down towards the soil, bringing the seeds closer to the ground.

No wonder you see these tiny Oxalis clumps appearing in your garden. Leave them alone — don’t pull them out. They are stunning, and they won’t take over your garden.

Next year, you may have many shiny Golden Sorrel flowers popping up in different places around your garden. And if the pink Sorrel species appear too, you could have a lovely natural display of pink and yellow among the fynbos.