Iron Cross Plant

Iron Cross Plant (Oxalis 'Iron Cross')

Iron Cross Plant is a compact, easy houseplant that earns its spot on a sunny windowsill with bold foliage and a steady stream of cheerful blooms. It brings instant pattern and color to small spaces, making a single pot feel like a finished accent in the room. With a simple watering routine and bright light, it grows quickly and stays rewarding for beginners and collectors alike. If you want a plant that looks interesting even between flower flushes, this oxalis delivers.

Distinctive Features

Oxalis 'Iron Cross' is known for its green, clover-like leaves marked with a dark burgundy cross at the center of each leaflet, creating a strong graphic look. Small pink flowers rise above the foliage on thin stems, adding soft color and movement without overwhelming the plant's tidy shape. Like many oxalis, the leaves can fold slightly in lower light or at night, which adds a lively, interactive feel. It grows from small bulbs and can cycle between active growth and rest depending on light and watering.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Bright light is best, including a few hours of gentle direct sun near an east or south window.
• Water: Water when the top of the mix is dry, then drain well, avoiding consistently soggy soil.
• Temperature: Typical indoor temperatures work well, roughly 60 to 75 F, and avoid hot, dry blasts from vents.
• Soil: Use a well-draining indoor potting mix to keep bulbs healthy and prevent rot.
• Rest Period: If foliage fades and growth slows, reduce watering and allow a short rest until new shoots appear.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Place where the patterned leaves can be seen up close, such as a desk, kitchen windowsill, or side table.
• Sunny Windows: Use in bright window light to keep growth compact and encourage frequent flowering.
• Small Space Planting: Add to shelves and counters where you want strong foliage pattern without a large plant.
• Gift Plant: Choose for gifting when you want something colorful, unique, and easy to care for.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering Rhythm: Water deeply, then let the mix dry slightly between waterings to match its bulb growth habit.
• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to keep the plant tidy and encourage continued flowering.
• Rotation: Rotate the pot every week or two so growth stays even and upright toward the light.
• Dormancy: If the plant rests, keep soil barely moist and resume normal watering when new growth returns.

Why Choose Iron Cross Plant?

• Patterned Foliage: The dark cross marking on each leaf creates a bold look that stands out indoors.
• Reliable Blooms: Pink flowers appear in flushes and add color above the foliage.
• Compact Habit: Stays small and easy to style in tight spaces and small pots.
• Easy Routine: Straightforward care and a natural rest cycle make it simple to keep long term.

Iron Cross Plant is a fun, polished accent that brings pattern, color, and movement to bright indoor spaces. Give it strong light and let the soil dry slightly between waterings, and it will stay compact and bloom-ready. If it takes a short rest, reduce watering and it will return with fresh growth when conditions are right.