Oxalis schaeferi

A little-known bulbous Oxalis from the arid highlands of southern Namibia. Like most southern African Oxalis it most likely grows in the cool season and sleeps through the hot, dry summer, so water it from autumn to spring, in full sun, and keep the bulbs dry in summer.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

It is known from very few records in the arid southern Namibian highlands, where small Oxalis come up among rocks and in gravel after rain. Its microhabitat is not documented, so this is inferred from the genus.

Few records carry an elevation; the climate site is near 1360 m.

Namibia (south)

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

Grow Oxalis schaeferi? Add it to a free garden and its full profile opens. Pro opens all 38,374 profiles in the library, plants and fungi.

Start free Sign in

More Oxalis

Oxalis stricta Oxalis tuberosa Oxalis corniculata Oxalis pes-caprae Oxalis alpina Oxalis articulata Oxalis triangularis Oxalis glabra Oxalis laxa Oxalis oregana Oxalis acetosella Oxalis debilis All 81 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC0 licence, unmodified.