• Photo of Oxalis grandis (Oxalis grandiss)

Plant Profile: Oxalis grandis

Taxonomy: Oxalis grandis

Names

Great Yellow Wood-sorrel, Large Yellow Wood-sorrel, Oxalis, Sourgrass

  • Photo of Oxalis grandis (Oxalis grandiss)

Phonetic Spelling:oks-AL-iss GRAN-dees

Genus:Oxalis

Species:grandis

Family:Oxalidaceae

These are either annual or perennial herbs characterized by long-stalked leaves that feature three leaflets. The flowers are composed of five petals and can be found in shades of white, yellow, lavender, or rose, while the fruit takes the form of a capsule.

Preferred Habitat: Wooded areas.

Toxic Parts: All components of the plant.

Mode of Toxicity: Primarily through ingestion, although there are no recorded instances of toxicity in humans.

Toxicity Level: Consumption results in only mild toxicity.

Common Locations: Often seen as houseplants or in interior landscapes; can be weedy in disturbed sites and lawns; utilized in flower gardens as herbaceous perennials.

For further details, refer to information on Oxalis.

Oxalis grandis Feature Summary

Oxalis grandis Image Gallery

Tags

#perennial
#yellow flowers
#weedy
#edible flowers
#NC native
#herbaceous perennial
#edible fruits
#edible leaves
#native wildflower
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses

Similar Plants

Oxalis grandis Feature Summary

Attributes
EDIBLE PARTS: Small amounts of leaves, flowers, seeds, tubers/roots eaten raw are not dangerous.
Perennial
Annual
Fruit
Capsules that burst open when ripe, flinging seeds. Unripe fruits have a tart flavor.
< 1 inch
Flowers
Up to 1 in. yellow flowers; five sepals and petals. Each petal has a red mark at the base. Blooms May to June.
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
4-5 petals/rays
Funnel
Tubular
Saucer
< 1 inch
Leaves
Compound leaf with three 1-2 in. leaflets edged with thin maroon line; inversely heart-shaped leaflets; long-stalked
Green
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Alternate
Rosulate
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Poisonous to Humans
All parts of the plant have toxic potential, although the possibility of serious effects is usually limited to ingestions of large quantities. Consuming Oxalis species can produce colic in horses, and kidney failure is possible if significant amounts are eaten. Caution: large quantities may cause trembling, cramps, and staggering as in grazing animals.
Soluble calcium oxylates
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Annual
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Poisonous
Weed
Wildflower
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Mountains
Piedmont
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Container
Naturalized Area
Houseplants
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Weedy

Oxalis grandis Attributes

Oxalis grandis: Country Or Region Of Origin

Eastern USA

Oxalis grandis: Edibility

EDIBLE PARTS: Small amounts of leaves, flowers, seeds, tubers/roots eaten raw are not dangerous.

Oxalis grandis: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Oxalis grandis Fruit

Oxalis grandis: Fruit Description

Capsules that burst open when ripe, flinging seeds. Unripe fruits have a tart flavor.

Oxalis grandis: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Oxalis grandis: Fruit Color

grass
Green

Oxalis grandis: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Oxalis grandis: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Oxalis grandis: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Oxalis grandis Flowers

Oxalis grandis: Flower Description

Up to 1 in. yellow flowers; five sepals and petals. Each petal has a red mark at the base. Blooms May to June.

Oxalis grandis: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Oxalis grandis: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Oxalis grandis: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Oxalis grandis: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Oxalis grandis: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Oxalis grandis: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Oxalis grandis: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Oxalis grandis Leaves

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Description

Compound leaf with three 1-2 in. leaflets edged with thin maroon line; inversely heart-shaped leaflets; long-stalked

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green
spa
Red/Burgundy

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Oxalis grandis: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Oxalis grandis: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Oxalis grandis Poisonous to Humans

Oxalis grandis: Poison Symptoms

All parts of the plant have toxic potential, although the possibility of serious effects is usually limited to ingestions of large quantities. Consuming Oxalis species can produce colic in horses, and kidney failure is possible if significant amounts are eaten. Caution: large quantities may cause trembling, cramps, and staggering as in grazing animals.

Oxalis grandis: Poison Toxic Principle

Soluble calcium oxylates

Oxalis grandis: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Oxalis grandis: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Oxalis grandis: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Oxalis grandis Whole Plant Traits

Oxalis grandis: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Oxalis grandis: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Oxalis grandis: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Oxalis grandis Cultural Conditions

Oxalis grandis: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Oxalis grandis: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Oxalis grandis: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Oxalis grandis: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Oxalis grandis: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Oxalis grandis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b

Oxalis grandis: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Oxalis grandis Stem

Oxalis grandis: Stem Color

grass
Green

Oxalis grandis: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Oxalis grandis: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Oxalis grandis Landscape

Oxalis grandis: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Oxalis grandis: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy