Sauer klee (Oxalis adenophylla) is a bulbous (or similar) plant that can grow up to 10cm tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Sauer klee (Oxalis adenophylla).
This plant is commonly known as sauer klee.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 5-10 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: sauer klee
Scientific name: Oxalis adenophylla
Plant type: Bulbs
Habit: Clump-forming
Height: Up to 10cm
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full shade, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Moist but well drained, Well drained
Garden type: Patio & Container Garden, Rock & Gravel Garden
Planting type: Hedging & Screens
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spring | ||||
Summer | ||||
Autumn | ||||
Winter |

How to plant Sauer klee (Oxalis adenophylla) – David Eickhoff from Pearl City, Hawaii, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bulbous plants are found all over the world in habitats as diverse as woods, meadows, riverbanks, rocky hills and mountains.
There are bulbs suitable for all types of garden design.
Most have their own limited flowering season, but with careful planning it is possible to combine this period of interest with the other plants in the garden.
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Sauer klee (Oxalis adenophylla), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Sauer klee (Oxalis adenophylla) is a plant that adapts to all types of soils, chalk, clay, loam or sand.
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The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
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Clay soil is composed of more than 25 percent clay particles. These particles have a high moisture holding capacity and the soil is heavy to dig and can be waterlogged in winter (dry in summer).
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Oxalis adenophylla likes to grow in moist but well drained or well drained soils.
Sunlight
Sauer klee (Oxalis adenophylla) is a plant that should be grown in shade or partial shade positions.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Sauer klee (Oxalis adenophylla) – R. Escudero Frank, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons