Oxalis vulcanicola 'Nordlys' – Green-and-cream variegated oxalis

Oxalis vulcanicola 'Nordlys' is an ornamental cultivar of Oxalis, prized for its delicate and strongly variegated foliage. It forms a dense clump with numerous small, trifoliate leaves in shades of green and creamy white, complemented by slender stems with pinkish-red tones.

During the active growing season, it produces small yellow flowers, borne on slender stems above the foliage. The combination of variegated leaves, reddish stems, and yellow flowers gives it a bright appearance that differs greatly from Oxalis varieties with uniformly colored foliage.

It has a compact, branching, and slightly trailing habit, making it suitable for pots, planters, hanging baskets, and seasonal combinations. The species Oxalis vulcanicola is native to Central America, from southern Mexico to western Panama.

🌿 Botanical characteristics

• Accepted name: Oxalis vulcanicola 'Nordlys'
• Botanical synonym: Oxalis spiralis subsp. vulcanicola 'Nordlys'
• Common name of the species: Volcanic Sorrel
• Family: Oxalidaceae
• Plant type: perennial ornamental plant in frost-free climates
• Compact, branching, and slightly trailing habit
• Small, trifoliate leaves
• Green and creamy-white variegation
• Stems and petioles may display pinkish-red tones
• Small yellow flowers borne on slender stems
• Suitable for pots, planters, and hanging baskets

🌞 Growing conditions and care

• Light: prefers a very bright position with gentle sunlight or bright partial shade. Light affects both the plant's density and the intensity of its coloring.
• Substrate: fertile, loose, and well-drained. Avoid heavy substrates and standing water.
• Watering: water regularly during the active growing period, allowing the surface of the substrate to dry slightly between waterings. Avoid keeping the roots permanently in saturated substrate.
• Fertilization: moderate during the growing period, especially for plants grown in containers.
• Maintenance: overly long shoots can be shortened to encourage branching and maintain a dense clump.
• Cold tolerance: it is not frost-hardy. The RHS assigns Oxalis vulcanicola hardiness rating H2, corresponding to minimum temperatures of approximately 1-5°C. In Romania, it can be grown in the garden, on a terrace, or on a balcony during the warm season, but it must be protected before frost occurs. 
• Overwintering: container-grown plants can be moved to a bright space protected from frost.

🌱 Secret Garden recommendation

👉 We recommend a fertile, airy, and well-drained substrate that provides sufficient moisture for active growth without keeping the roots permanently waterlogged.

Effective drainage holes are important when growing the plant in pots and planters.

✨ What makes it special

• spectacular green-and-cream trifoliate variegated foliage;
• each leaf may display a slightly different pattern;
• the pinkish-red stems create additional contrast with the foliage;
• produces small yellow flowers;
• dense, branching, and slightly trailing habit;
• very attractive in pots and planters;
• can be grown outdoors throughout the warm season;
• decorative even when not in flower.

📌 Note

The pattern and proportion of the variegation may naturally vary from one leaf to another and from one plant to another. The foliage may display different proportions of green and cream, while the intensity of the colors can be influenced by light, temperature, and growing conditions.

Plants may be delivered with more or less abundant foliage and with shoots of varying lengths, depending on their stage of development. The plant may be delivered with or without flowers. The leaves and stems are delicate and may show dried leaves, breaks, or other minor aesthetic imperfections resulting from handling, transport, or adaptation to new environmental conditions, without affecting the plant's viability.

Height including pot: 15-20 cm

The ceramic pot is not included in the price.