If you’re cultivating an Oxalis palmifrons succulent, you might be asking yourself similar questions about the plant’s origin and how it acquired its name.
The Oxalis genus is a large one with many varieties (over 2000), and while there are many varieties of Oxalis, the Oxalis Palmifrons is a special and stunning variety that is very popular – so lets dive in!
1. It Is Native To Africa
Like most succulents, they are from hot countries to begin with, so it won’t shock you to learn that Oxalis palmifrons was originally from South Africa in the Western Karoo.
And yes, it is a desert plant, and it likes the hot desert temperatures.
It was first introduced to Europe by European settlers, but it is not clear on what date it was. It is also unknown when it was introduced to America.
Because it is from a hot climate, it does not fare well in cold climate, and based on its USDA hardiness, it can only be grown outdoors in most of North America for all months of the year, with protection from frost, which will kill them.
It will usually only grown in USDA zones 7 to 11, needing 60 to 70F degree temperatures, and bright sunlight.
2. It Gets Its Name From Is Appearance
It may not shock you to learn that the Oxalis palmifrons is named because of its appearance.
It is a stunning plant and is really a tiny perfect scale model of a bundle of palm trees, extremely attractive and eye-catching.
The fronds grow out of a central stem, and each stem has one leaf.
Humans are crazy for the miniature form of anything, look at bonsai trees, and this plant is like a bonsai created by nature.
It is not even a small palm (or relation) to a palm, but it looks like a mini-palm grove good that you’d think there was a connection.
With tiny and delicate fronds lazily splayed outwards into star-like shapes, this Oxalis certainly deserves a botanical name, and looks thoroughly different from any other Oxalis.
Have You Noticed: If you are familiar with the other types of Oxalis, like wood sorrel or purple shamrock, you would know that most Oxalis have three leaves per stalk, and they look a little like clover, certainly not palm trees.
3. This Plant Is Great At Water Preservation
The Oxalis palmifrons doesn’t look like it would be a top choice for saving water because its leaves are thin and spread out rather than fleshy and clustered.
Typically, plants that need to store water have big, plump leaves so that water can be trapped in there – and most succulents are an exception to this.
Lower surface area reduces evaporation and gives the plant a better chance at surviving dry periods.
However, like all plants that are native to deserts, the Oxalis palmifrons has to be able to store water, and it does this by stacking its leaves over top of each other so that the bottom leaves don’t evaporate as much.
The bottom leaves are nearly completely covered by the top leaves, and this helps to conserve water for the plant and maintain hydration.
4. This Plant Is Active In The Winter
In Africa’s heat, it is fully dormant in the summer and then back to life in winter when it cools down some and it is easier for the plant to grow.
In a more temperate climate, it might grow all year but may also slow down when it is really hot.
Don’t worry if that happens to your plant, unless it has gotten to looking sick.
It is probably not serious, and it should start growing again when the temperature is back within a favorable range.
A Must-Do: If it does start looking sick or drops its leaves, determine if the plant needs water, food, a larger container, or light.
5. The Leaves Fold Up At Night
If you observe your Oxalis palmifrons at night you may be amazed to see it folding up its neat leaves one leaf by one.
It can be a beautiful thing to watch, partly because the leaves are so delicate, and the plant will do it every evening.
Then the next morning when dawn arrives, the leaves will unfold to begin the photosynthetic process. It is likely that this behavior also helps to protect the leaves from colder temperatures. You may see the leaves close up on a cloudy day with low light levels the same way.
If using a grow lamp with your Oxalis palmifrons, be sure to cut it off at night for a period of darkness.
6. The Leaves Can Have Twenty Fronds Each
A fascinating example of miniaturization, a single leaf of the Oxalis palmifrons, can have as many as twenty fronds, and it’ll usually average about one centimeter across at full size.
These fronds are delicate and elongated, forming an arc downward, they give the impression of palm fronds and are stuck to a fleshy stem.
7. The Leaves Are Hairy
Though they may not appear as such, the leaves are all densely covered in small hairs, which serve to protect the foliage and reflect the considerable sunlight the plant is often subjected to.
This helps to protect it from burning even in the heat of the summer.
If you are keeping one of these plants, you still have to be observant and provide a screen or something for it to protect it if the sun does damage the leaves.
The hairs do not make them invulnerable to burning.
8. The Foliage Can Change Color
Although the foliage of the Oxalis palmifrons is typically bright green, it can transform to red or orange or sometimes start as a vibrant pink when it breaks dormancy.
If it does turn color, the leaves will usually all return to green for a while, especially the leaves in the middle of the plant.
There is probably nothing you can actively do to change the color of the foliage.
9. The Flowers Look Oversized
You probably won’t ever see your Oxalis palmifrons flower because it is very reluctant to do so in an indoor environment.
However, if you can achieve perfect conditions, it may reward you with a few flowers.
If you are able to achieve it, you will probably be surprised by the size of the flowers this plant grows.
Given the small delicate foliage, the flowers are quite large, and a single petal is often larger than a whole leaf.
This tends to seem oddly proportioned when you compare the flowers to the rest of the plants, but they are still somewhat pleasing, and consider it a win.
Typically the flowers will either be white, pink or both.
10. It Grows From A Bulb
If you ever repot your Oxalis palmifrons, you may be surprised when you dig down to find bulbs, as they are not like roots.
Oxalis palmifrons grow from a large, fleshy brown bulb.
The bulb will continue to mature as the plant get older, but it is important to note that Oxalis palmifrons are exceedingly slow growers, and you will wait quite a while for it to grow to an appreciable size.
It is generally believed that larger bulbs planted in deeper pots are more likely to produce flowers than smaller bulbs planted in shallow pots.
Be Gentle: If you have to repot your Oxalis palmifrons, be very gentle as damaging the bulb could result in death to the plant.
11. It Will Not Survive The Cold
Many succulents are not cold hardy at all, and the Oxalis palmifrons is certainly one of these, which will die very rapidly if kept at cold temperatures.
If you do not live in a warm climate, you will have to grow this indoors on a sunny windowsill for any chance of survival.
If the plant is kept in cooler temperatures, the growth may be slower, than if it was in warm temperatures.
However, you do not want to heat it constantly, because this plant will turn dormant when exposed to heat, and will only wake and grow at the temperatures.
Conclusion
The Oxalis palmifrons is an extremely attractive and very unusual plant and doesn’t look like what you would expect from the Oxalis genus.
If you love complex plants and creating mini worlds, Oxalis palmifrons will be a wonderful addition to your collection, but be warned, this plant can be temperamental and is not easy to flower.