{"product_id":"oxalis-tetraphylla-iron-cross","title":"Oxalis tetraphylla (deppei) 'Iron Cross'","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eOxalis tetraphylla\u003c\/strong\u003e, still widely sold under its old trade name \u003cstrong\u003eOxalis deppei\u003c\/strong\u003e and best known as the \u003cstrong\u003eIron Cross\u003c\/strong\u003e or \u003cstrong\u003eGood Luck Plant\u003c\/strong\u003e, is one of the most cheerful little bulbs you can grow. Each leaf is made of four heart-shaped, clover-like leaflets in fresh green, stamped with a bold reddish-purple blotch at the centre that forms the unmistakable cross. Above the foliage it lifts loose sprays of bright pink flowers all through summer. Sold for generations as a lucky clover and four-leaved pink sorrel, it is the plant people reach for when they want a bit of charm and good fortune in a pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHonest word on hardiness. The RHS rates it \u003cstrong\u003eH4\u003c\/strong\u003e, so it is hardier than many of its cousins and can be reliably perennial in milder, well drained gardens, but it is \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e bulletproof. It is winter dormant and the bulbs dislike cold, wet soil, so in heavy ground or colder areas the safe route is to grow it in a pot or lift the bulbs before hard frost. The leaves die right back in winter and the plant rests underground until spring, which is completely normal. Our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ewhat to expect\u003c\/a\u003e guide covers how bulbs like this behave through the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow and where to grow\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePosition:\u003c\/strong\u003e full sun for the best flowering and the deepest cross markings, with a little light shade tolerated. Perfect for sunny \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003epots, patios and balconies\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e light, sharply drained, sandy or gritty soil. It hates sitting wet, so it thrives in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003edry and gravel garden\u003c\/a\u003e conditions and at the front of a warm border.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e compact, reaching only around 10 to 15 cm tall, spreading gently into a neat clump over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness:\u003c\/strong\u003e RHS H4, winter dormant. Reliable in mild, free-draining spots, but lift the bulbs or move pots under cover before hard frost in colder or heavy gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eWater regularly through spring and summer while it is in leaf and flower, letting the surface dry between drinks, then ease off as the foliage fades in autumn and keep the dormant bulbs nearly dry over winter. A light feed every few weeks in the growing season keeps the flowers coming and the clump multiplying. Its long, pollinator-friendly flowering makes it a natural among our other \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-bulbs\"\u003eexotic bulbs and tubers\u003c\/a\u003e, a bright companion for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003ewildlife and pollinator\u003c\/a\u003e plantings, and a fun addition to the wider \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-exotics\"\u003ehardy exotics\u003c\/a\u003e range. Every plant we supply is nursery-grown, hand-selected and packed with care to arrive in lovely condition, ready to pot up or plant out once the frosts have passed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"9cm \/ 0.5L","offer_id":57933824655743,"sku":"OXALDEPP9","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_c74e7938-39b5-44fa-8d2e-632df1509af9.jpg?v=1783695026","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/oxalis-tetraphylla-iron-cross","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}