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5-Petaled, Striated Pink Wildflowers?

2 years ago

I may have asked about this before, but these ~dime-sized, pink wildflowers were found growing in a lawn. What are they?

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Jay 6a Chicago

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I've been to Texas a few times, and yes, everything is bigger there. Can't wait to go back again! There are about 6 species that it could be, but considering the striations and tubers, debilis and violacea are strong contenders, but some good photos of the leaves would help. There aren't any good leaf pics so far, and some of these species have distinct leaves. It wouldn't hurt. I'm starting to appreciate these weedy Oxalis because they are mostly native, they will always be here, and they can shade open ground preventing worse weedy species from getting a foothold. Like Canada Goldenrod for example. If it's doing well in a lawn why not add it to your lawn, unless you enjoy herbicide, pesticide treated monoculture turf? I even have a couple native Oxalis species on my wish list.

Oxalis montana

Oxalis illinoensis

Oxalis violacea

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Comments (10)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
One of the many Oxalis species.
blakrab Centex thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
blakrab Centex
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Yes, they are some type of Oxalis! I pulled some up out of the lawn to transplant to my flower bed where they won't get mowed down. They had huge cloverleaves, with each leaflet probably about ~.8" long. They also have bulbs with cone-shaped taproots. Any idea what species this is?
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I looked up Scarlet Flax on Google and that is DEFINITELY the hot pink flower that is growing amongst my wildflowers. Thank you so much for the help IDing it.. I wouldn't have figured it out otherwise. I had researched "pink wildflower with 5 petals" a hundred times in different words, but couldn't find anything accurate. Apparently it's considered red, but to me.. it's hot pink! Also, thank you for help IDing the Calendula.. I thought it might be Calendula (buds and foliage looked familiar), since I do have a few of those in my front gardens.. but the ones in my front yard are only yellow. I wasn't sure they came in orange (with brown centers), too. Last year I bought 6 Calendula seedlings.. they reseeded and now there's about 50 in my front yard!! The one in my original posting must've been from seed, included in one of the wildflower packets I purchased and planted.. since it is a different variety. Wasn't sure it was a wildflower.. Glad to know!! Thank you again for your help.. Always appreciated :)
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Your plant is Centaurium tenuiflorum, which has sessile flowers. The other one in your area is C. pulchellum, with flowers on pedicels. The appearance can be misleading, because they sometimes look pedicellate, but aren't. That plant was relatively rare a few years ago, but is now found in southern AR in large, very attractive masses. If you must have a non-native, that one gets my vote.
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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Given the aggressive spreading of many oxalis, put them in a pot, not a bed, until you’re certain of the id. Many Oxalis can become weeds which are really hard to eradicate. Btw 8” is very big for an Oxalis.
thefof Zone 8/9 UK
2 years ago
Floral. You missed the decimal point.
blakrab Centex thanked thefof Zone 8/9 UK
Jay 6a Chicago
2 years ago
Look at BONAP and list all the Oxalis species that occur in Texas. Google each species and list the species with pink/violet flowers. Then Google each species with Flora of north America and start keying them out until you find a match. I have my Oxalis violacea and I'm looking for the O. illinoensis with yellow flowers with red centers and the native white flowered Oxalis. You have this plant close by you, so it's much easier for you to key it out.
blakrab Centex thanked Jay 6a Chicago
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
I did. Though isn’t everything in Texas 10 times bigger?
thefof Zone 8/9 UK
2 years ago
I don't know about that, but the Texans sure believe it.
blakrab Centex
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Well, it is the 2nd-largest state after Alaska... But most people don't even count Alaska since they write it off as a mosquito-filled tundra, lol.

So, the good news is that based upon its bulb and white taproot...it looks to be NATIVE Violet Wood Sorrel (Oxalis violacea)! I'd definitely love to have a bed full of this now, as its flowers are so pretty, and its giant cloverleaves dwarf those of your typical non-native clovers!

Yea, the colorful assortment of native Oxalis is quite fantastic! I feel like they're a best kept secret groundcover/flower bed filler!
Jay 6a Chicago
2 years ago
I grew some Oxalis violacea from seed last year. I planted about 15 tubers, but only a few have returned. I hope I didn't pull out any of the others by mistake.

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