Rumex acetosella , or Sheep sorrel, is a herbaceous perennial herb consisting of a rosette of basal leaves and occasional flowering stalks. The stalks are slender and upright with reddish ridges. The stems branch at the top and the plant reaches a height of 18 inches. It blooms from March to November and produces either red (female) flowers or yellowish-green (male) flowers. The flowers turn into red achene fruits. Sheep sorrel prefers full or partial sunlight, mesic to dry conditions, acid and sandy soil but also thrives on loam or clay loam soil at disturbed sites. It is quite aggressive and considered difficult to manage or eradicate because of its creeping rhizome roots. American Cooper or Small Cooper butterfly depend on it for food. There are several uses of sheep sorrel in the preparation of food including a garnish, a tart flavoring agent, a salad green, and a curdling agent for cheese. The leaves have a lemony, tangy or nicely tart flavor. However, they contain significant amounts of oxalic acid, which can be toxic to the kidneys if a sufficiently large quantity of leaves is eaten. The plant prefers acidic conditions and blueberry farmers are familiar with the weed because it thrives in the same conditions under which blueberries are cultivated. Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems: People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take caution if including this plant in their diet. It can aggravate those conditions.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Basel leaves are 3 inch arrow-shaped leaves with smooth margins and two lobes at the base.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers can be red (female) or yellowish green (male). The slender flowering stalks are angular or ridged, terminating in a panicle with spike-like racemes of tiny flowers.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Achene
Stem detail
The slender flowering stalks are angular or ridged, terminating in a panicle with spike-like racemes of tiny flowers.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Eurasia and British Isles
Distribution
throughout
Wildlife value
American Cooper or Small Cooper butterfly depend on it for food.
Attracts
Butterflies
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Fruit type
Achene
Edibility
The leaves have a lemony, tangy or nicely tart flavor.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used in the preparation of food including as a garnish, a tart flavoring agent, a salad green, or a curdling agent for cheese.
Landscape Use
Garden tags
#edible weed #aggressive #edible garden #butterfly friendly #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #perennial #wildlife friendly #weedy #contact dermatitis
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Propagation
Division; Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison symptoms
Kidney failure (rare in dogs/cats), tremors, salivation.