Oxalis versicolor

Oxalis versicolor and its forms.
That dreaded word in gardening circles, “OXALIS”, If you are going to fall in love with a weed, take care they become a disease like Orchiditis.
I got the disease years ago when i was about 12. Fell in love with one of the worst ones, Oxalis  pes-caprae, the dreaded yellow one. It grew from there, and now i have about 50-60 species and forms, all grown in pots and trays. If you put them in the ground leave them there. 
This blog is about one species.
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If you are going to fall in love with Oxalis . This is the species to do it.
Oxalis versicolor, Candycane sorrel, Peppermint Stick, Barbers Pole, its common names. we have 3 forms here in NZ, and a 4th pretending to be. The last one is rather rare, I only know of one lot.

​No1. The first form, not quite common is Oxalis versicolor, typical. This has a white flower with a narrow red edge to it. Quite fast to bulk up and makes a good clump in 4-5 years.

No2. this form is rare in NZ, Oxalis versicolor “BC” (Brian Casey). Found in this Guys garden, His mother had been growing for years. A white flower with a wide red edge , almost covering the white.
​A plant that really stands out. makes a nice clump in 4-5 years.

No3. this form is so rare, but slowly being bulked up. Oxalis versicolor “Multi-petaled”. Hard to describe. A plant to drool over, a flower to make even the confirmed Oxalis haters, go into orgasmic throws :)
The buds are quite plump with a widest red band, opening up slowly, a ring of white petals then smaller petals and a bunch up in the middle, all showing the red stripe. the photos do not do it justice.
And the pretender is Oxalis tenuifolia, very rare in NZ. White with a reddish/purple edge.
Photos below.

Oxalis versicolor typical

Oxalis versicolor "BC"

Oxalis versicolor typical

Oxalis versicolor "BC"

Oxalis versicolor "BC"

Oxalis versicolor "Multi Petal"

Oxalis versicolor "Multi Petal"

Oxalis tenuifolia ?

Oxalis versicolor "BC"

Oxalis versicolor "Multi Petal"

Oxalis versicolor "Multi Petal"

Oxalis tenuifolia ?