Hi, we were given this plant as a gift and we would love to know what it is!

Yes - that's Oxalis triangularis. It's lovely, isn't it.

When the leaves die back, let the compost dry out enough to be able to tip the pot onto newspaper to collect the little corms. Then you can plant them up in pots, about 6 to a pot in new compost. You should find enough to fill more than one pot from the look of your plant! Then of course, water as usual to start them off growing.

I think that that was the first plant I discussed with Spritz when I joined GOY. That is the atropurpurea version. There are also green versions, pink versions and my own favourite, the iron cross which has leaves that are green round the outside and purple on the inside making what looks like, um, an iron cross. They are members of the wood sorrel family and are often given about this time of year for St. Patrick's day because their other name is 'purple shamrock' except they are not related to the shamrock at all. (Sham shamrocks?) Just thought I would embroider, Spritz, cos I am bored. Lol.

John.

Sorry I forgot to add 'atropurpurea'!!
I wouldn't plant O. deppingei (sp) 'Iron Cross' indoors, though. I have it in the garden and up it pops every year (so far).This one would grow outside in the summer. I haven't seen the all-green one - would that make a good house plant, John?

P.S. Why are you bored? You can help me with a question in lesson 7 on monocots if you like. I am stuck!

Sorry, Amanda! But you did get your answer!

Though often described as having a stereotype morphology, the monocots are actually quite diverse, ranging from tiny duckweeds to large palms. (Sorry, just pinched the first thing I saw on Google. I'm not *very* bored. Lol.)

The green one is the oxalis corniculata or yellow (actually it's green) sorrel. I think the iron cross is a hybrid of the two. Probably OK as a house plant. Apparently it is not frost hardy.

John.

Big thanks to you both!
Amanda

Yes it is, John - who told you that?

Sorry, Amanda. It's called 'backchat' or 'having a debate'

I have got to go on about plant associations and the 'limitations' of growing monocots without protection in the UK...

Whoops. It is those tablets again Spritz. I read 'It is not frost tender' as 'It is frost tender'. Even if I did that I should have noticed the next sentence - 'It is hardy to Zone 5'. I keep doing that these days. And at the Age of 21+. Lol.

Yours in decrepitude

John.